There is a world comprised of a single continent and a sea divided into six distinct regions.
The continent consists mostly of high-altitude highlands, so tall that the clouds are within arm's reach. Because the entirety of the earth is a deep, crimson hue, it is called the 'Red Line.'
The Red Line stretches long enough to encircle the very center of the world, its two ends meeting to form a perfect, continuous ring.
This Red Line carves the world in half. The sea route that runs in a straight line, bisecting the Red Line at a perpendicular angle, is known by many as the 'Grand Line.'
Bordering both sides of the Grand Line is the 'Calm Belt'—a zone of eternal stillness where no wind ever blows. It is the nesting ground for colossal monsters known as 'Sea Kings,' making any attempt to cross it a feat verging on the impossible.
Thus, the world's oceans are divided into four major seas by the intersections of the Red Line and the Calm Belt: the East Blue, West Blue, South Blue, and North Blue.
With the Grand Line further split into its first and second halves by the Red Line, the world's waters are effectively categorized into six distinct seas.
On the outskirts of an island in the East Blue lies Foosha Village. At this very moment, within a small tavern in that village, a man and a woman were deep in conversation.
"Ugh... Makino, Sis... how much did I drink last night?"
"Don't you remember, Luffy? You emptied a whole barrel over a meter long all by yourself!"
The beauty with deep green hair responded to the man wearing a straw hat.
The woman known as Makino sat and looked up at the man she called Luffy.
"I must have really overdone it. My memory is a total blank halfway through."
The man had sharp, well-defined features and black hair with a slight, natural curl. His shoulders were broad, and his stature reached an imposing 190 centimeters.
He wore a red shirt, unbuttoned at the top to reveal well-developed pectoral muscles, with a thin black coat draped over it. He paired this with yellow trousers.
If there was one thing that stood out in Luffy's attire, it was undoubtedly the straw hat resting upon his head.
"Ooh... my stomach is killing me."
"That's what happens when you drain an entire barrel on your first time drinking. Are you really going to be okay? Today is your first voyage as a pirate, isn't it?"
"Just wait a bit. I'll make you some warm noodles."
"...With meat?"
"I'll put plenty in."
"Thanks, Sis."
As Makino turned around and lit the fire under the pot behind her, Luffy sat down and watched her back, lost in thought.
'Alright, let's get my thoughts in order.'
'My name is Monkey D. Luffy. I'm 17 years old.'
'There are many strange things about me, but if I had to pick the most unusual... it's that I am a reincarnator.'
'To be precise, I regained the memories of my past life immediately after getting completely trashed on my very first drink last night.'
'In my previous life, I grew up in an orphanage. I never knew my parents' faces.'
'Perhaps because I was frail since childhood, I died of an illness at the tragically young age of 17.'
'It wasn't a particularly special life... orphaned and sickly children exist all over the world, after all.'
'A pathetic child, the kind that isn't common but can be found anywhere... that was me.'
He looked down after watching Makino, staring at his reflection in the large glass in front of him as he continued his inner monologue.
'Sigh... right. My past life isn't what's important right now. What matters is that I've been reincarnated as the protagonist of a manga world.'
'One Piece. It was incredibly famous in my old world, and my absolute favorite.'
'In this world, most people live on the countless islands scattered across the sea, rather than on the Red Line.'
'And that is why the protagonist of that manga and his crew mostly visited islands on their journey.'
'The protagonist of that story is the Straw Hat Pirate, Monkey D. Luffy. Me.'
'Luffy's signature ability was his body stretching like rubber.'
'But then why do I have a different power...?'
"Luffy, what are you thinking so hard about?"
"Huh?"
"The noodles are ready. Aren't you going to eat?"
Luffy looked up at the sound of Makino's voice. She lifted a bowl over a meter in diameter and set it down in front of him.
The pot was filled with noodles in a rich, dark brown broth, piled high with thick cuts of meat.
"This is the first time I've seen you stay still in front of food, Luffy. Having second thoughts about your first voyage?"
"I'm debating it. Whether to be a pirate or not."
"What's gotten into you suddenly, Luffy? Ann set sail three years ago, and you've been saying for months that you were leaving today!"
"Sis... why did the 'me' from yesterday say he wanted to go on an adventure?"
"He already knew how terrifying this world is."
"Luffy, if this is because of what happened a year ago..."
"I'm going to eat now. Thanks for the food."
"...Alright."
Luffy began to dig in.
He lifted the massive bowl with both hands and gulped down the broth before shoveling noodles and meat into his mouth with his chopsticks. Makino watched him with a trace of sadness in her eyes.
Just then, someone kicked the tavern doors open and shouted,
"So you were here with Makino, Luffy!"
"Ah, Dadan. You're here?"
"Did Dadan arrive?"
It was a middle-aged woman with long, orange curly hair.
She was slightly taller than Luffy and possessed a stout, heavy-set frame that made her appear even larger than him.
"Is your stomach okay, Luffy? I didn't think you'd drink that much last night."
"Once I started, I just couldn't stop. How's your stomach, Dadan?"
"After everyone else passed out, you and Dadan were the only ones left standing at the end."
"Bwahahaha! As if a brat like you could ever match my tolerance!"
"Are you alright, Dadan? I have some leftover broth from Luffy's noodles..."
"Ah... could I have some of that?"
"What happened to the legendary tolerance you were just bragging about?"
"My tolerance is the best in Foosha Village! It's just that you were impressive for keeping up with me, Luffy."
As Makino turned back to relight the stove for another pot, Dadan spoke to Luffy, who had already finished his soup.
"Truly remarkable... even drunk out of your mind, you made sure to keep that straw hat safe."
"What did I do?"
"You kept mumbling that you had to protect the hat. You only finally quieted down once we put it on your head."
"Luffy, is that straw hat really that precious to you?"
"Of course... this straw hat is my treasure."
Luffy gazed at the straw hat in his hands, prompted by Makino's question.
"Luffy, if you really don't want to go, you don't have to set sail today."
"What are you saying, Makino? Why would Luffy..."
"Dadan, the thing is..."
"No, Sis. I'm going today."
"...Are you really okay?"
"I made a promise... that I'd go back to return this hat."
Saying that, Luffy's mind drifted back to the distant past.
******
"A toast to the voyage of the Red-Haired Pirates! Cheers!"
"Cheers!"
Ten years ago, in a tavern in Foosha Village.
The tavern, where a young Makino—still in her teens—was busy carrying mugs of ale, was rowdy with the shouts of dozens of men.
At the center of it all was a man with red hair wearing a straw hat, a jagged scar across his left eye that looked as if a beast had clawed it.
In front of him, a young boy looked up and shouted,
"Tell me that story again, Shanks!"
"You already heard it from the other guys, Luffy!"
"They said Shanks was a crewmate of the Pirate King! And that you were there at the execution!"
"So I have to hear about the end of the Pirate King, Gold Roger, from Shanks himself!"
"Seriously, who was it?! Which one of you told Luffy that!"
"I don't know, Boss... I think maybe it was me?"
"It was you? I thought I was the one who told him...?"
"I heard it from Lucky Roux."
"Ah~ Boss! I guess I told Luffy while I was drunk yesterday!"
"Gyahahaha!!!"
Shanks shouted at his crew after hearing what seven-year-old Luffy said, and a man named Lucky Roux responded. He was a round, portly man wearing goggles, and the rest of the crew burst into laughter at his confession.
"Just once, Shanks! Tell me yourself! Then I'll never ask again!"
"Alright, Luffy. I'm only saying this once, so listen closely."
"Thanks, Shanks!"
"Right... that day was twelve years ago now."
"Captain Roger's execution took place in his hometown, Loguetown. The weather was clear that day."
As Shanks began to recount the events of that day, everyone in the tavern, including Luffy, listened with rapt attention.
"The Captain was dignified as he climbed the execution scaffold. It was hard to believe he was a man facing certain death."
"I was watching from the crowd with my comrade... when someone suddenly screamed toward Captain Roger."
"They asked where the 'One Piece' was."
"The One Piece... that's!"
"Yes, Luffy. The world's greatest treasure that Captain Roger found."
"So! What did Roger say?!"
"The Captain..."
Shanks spoke while reminiscing on the memories of that fateful day.
In his memory, Shanks saw a middle-aged man sitting atop the high execution platform. A man with messy black hair and a mustache long enough to touch his cheeks—Gol D. Roger—opened his mouth and spoke:
"My treasure? If you want it, I'll let you have it!"
"Search for it! I left everything this world has to offer in that place!"
"WHOOOOOOOOOO!!!"
"No matter how many times I hear it, it never gets old!"
"Of course not! This is the story that sparked the Great Pirate Era!"
"The man who finds the One Piece becomes the Pirate King! That's just common sense on these seas now!"
While the crew cheered at the end of Shanks's story, Luffy looked directly at Shanks.
"I've decided, Shanks! I'm going to find the One Piece and become the Pirate King!"
"So, let me join your crew!"
"Pwahaha! How is a little brat like you supposed to be a pirate?"
"I'm not a brat!"
"You're seven. You're too young to be on a ship."
"Come back when you're at least ten years older, then maybe I'll think about it."
"Ten years?! If you don't want to take me, just say so!"
"You look pretty depressed, Luffy. Are you really going to give up just because of one thing the Boss said?"
"Yasopp..."
As Luffy's expression soured, the man called Yasopp approached him along with Lucky Roux. He carried a long rifle on his back and wore his brown hair in many braided dreadlocks.
"Once you become a pirate, you can have adventures on countless islands across the vast ocean. Isn't that right, Roux?"
"Damn right, Yasopp! A pirate is the freest person in the world!"
"Free? The freest in the world...?"
"That's right, Luffy!"
'Freedom, adventure... just hearing the words makes my heart race. How could I ever give that up!'
Luffy's smile returned upon hearing Yasopp and Lucky Roux's words. Seeing this, Shanks scowled.
"Don't go filling his head with weird ideas, you two."
"Why not, Boss? You could take him just once, couldn't you?"
"Yeah, listen to Yasopp! I've taken a liking to Luffy!"
"If one of you two leaves the crew, I'll consider it."
"Ah... well, I guess it can't be helped then."
"Let's go have another drink, Yasopp!"
The two men quickly turned tail. Luffy shouted after them,
"You guys are cheap! You were helping me just a second ago!"
"Luffy, you should try to understand the Boss's heart a little."
"What do you mean, Beckman?"
The man called Beckman, his black hair swept back and a cigarette in his mouth, answered Luffy.
"The Boss is the Captain of this crew."
"He knows how fun a pirate's life is, but he also knows exactly how dangerous it can be."
"And besides... come closer."
"Huh?"
"The Pirate King... he was the Captain of the ship our Boss sailed on."
"For us pirates, it's natural to cheer because the Pirate King's end started the Great Pirate Era."
"But for the Boss, remembering that day isn't exactly a happy occasion."
"Ah... I see."
'As Beckman says, it might be a painful memory for Shanks... did I ask something I shouldn't have?'
Luffy looked at Shanks sitting on his stool. While everyone else was drinking joyfully, Luffy now saw a hint of bitterness in Shanks's expression.
"Anyway, the Boss is just worried about you. You get it, right?"
"Beckman... but isn't worrying about me separate from him teasing me?"
"Give it up, Luffy! The sea doesn't show mercy just because you're a kid!"
"See?! He's teasing me again!"
"Well... I suppose it's a bit of both."
"Stop teasing me, Shanks!"
Luffy shouted as he sat down on the stool next to Shanks. At that moment, Makino placed several plates of stir-fried meat on the counter.
"Your food is served."
"Oh! Thanks for the food, Makino Sis!"
"You're welcome, Luffy."
"You seem to be having fun, Shanks-san?"
"It's always a blast thanks to Luffy. I've been teasing him for over a year since we made this village our base, and it hasn't gotten old yet."
"Munch, munch... Sis, I'm never going to grow up to be an adult who bullies kids like this."
"Oh? Did you just admit that you're a kid?"
"Wha— No, that's not what I—!"
"You admitted it! You said it yourself: 'I am a kid.'"
"Darn it... seriously!"
In a huff, Luffy began to shovel the meat into his mouth with his fork.
"Just you wait... once I eat plenty and grow up, I'm going to be an adult way stronger and cooler than Shanks...!"
"Hahaha! Eat slowly, Luffy. If you choke... huh?"
Shanks noticed that Luffy, who had finished his meat in record time, was now chewing on a strange fruit he had found somewhere.
The fruit was highly unusual, with several swirls and patterns etched into its purple skin.
"BLEGH! What is this?! It tastes horrible!"
"Lu-Luffy! Where did you get that fruit?!"
"Uh... sorry. Truth is, I saw it when you guys were unloading the cargo from the ship and it looked tasty, so I snatched it."
"What's wrong, Captain?"
"We've got a problem, Yasopp! Luffy ate the Gomu Gomu no Mi!"
Upon hearing Shanks's shout, the entire crew stared at Luffy in shock. Lucky Roux opened a nearby chest, confirming it was empty.
"The chest that held the Gomu Gomu no Mi is empty! Luffy definitely ate it!"
"Wait, what kind of fruit is it anyway...?"
"Luffy, you brat! Such bad habits at such a young age...!"
"I-I'm sorry!"
Shanks grabbed Luffy's wrists and hoisted him up, but at that moment—
"W-Wait, what's this on his hands?!"
"Luffy! Your eyes...!"
A faint, golden energy began to swirl around Luffy's hands, and his pupils were stained with a brilliant gold light.
"Help, Makino Sis! Shanks is trying to—!"
"It's not me! It's that fruit you just ate!"
As Shanks released Luffy's wrists in surprise, Luffy fell toward the stool below him.
-CRACK!
The moment Luffy's golden-cloaked hands touched the heavy wooden table as he fell, the entire piece of furniture shattered into splinters.
"Whoa... I got really strong, Shanks!"
"Captain! Luffy got stronger!"
"For a kid to gain that much power just from eating a fruit..."
"Shut up, you lot!"
Amidst the growing commotion, Shanks noticed the golden energy around Luffy's hands beginning to fade.
"Luffy... what you ate was a Devil Fruit! If you eat it, you gain a bizarre power!"
"The Gomu Gomu no Mi you ate specifically turns your body into rubber!"
"Rubber?"
Luffy pinched the center of his left arm with his right fingers.
"OW! It's not stretching!"
"You said I turned into rubber! Then what was that weird golden stuff on my hands?!"
"Well, it's named the Gomu Gomu no Mi, but truthfully, that's— No, that's not all!"
"The most important part is that if you eat a Devil Fruit, you'll lose all your strength in water! You'll never be able to swim again!"
"Can't swim? Then how am I supposed to be a pirate?!"
"That's what you get for eating our stuff without asking!"
-SLAM!
Just as the tavern reached its peak chaos over the fruit, the door was kicked open violently, and more than twenty men flooded into the room.
Leading them was a middle-aged man with messy black hair and a short beard. He walked into the tavern and spoke with a sneer.
"I heard there were pirates here... but seeing you in person, you all look like a bunch of idiots."
"Gyahahaha!!!"
His lackeys immediately burst into laughter, mocking the pirates. The pirates, who had been drinking joyfully until a second ago, set down their mugs and stared at the newcomers. The man leading the bandits walked up to Makino.
"I am Higuma, the mountain bandit of Mount Colubo behind the village. And the leader of these men."
"We just came for some booze, not to cause trouble. Sell us ten barrels."
"I... I'm terribly sorry, but we've run out of alcohol at the moment."
"Oh? Are these pirates drinking water then?"
"What they are drinking is the last of it."
"Ah, our crew happened to drain the cellar dry. Sorry about that."
"Shanks-san..."
"I still have this bottle in my hand, and it's unopened. If this is enough for you..."
-SMASH!
Before Shanks could finish, Higuma swung his hand and shattered the bottle. Ale drenched Shanks's head. Higuma looked down at him.
"Hey, Red-Haired. Who do you think you are, trying to offer me a single bottle that wouldn't even serve as a nightcap for a man like me?"
"I have a bounty of 8 million Berries. It's the reward for sending arrogant fools like you to the afterlife."
"When you consider the average bounty in the East Blue is only 3 million, you get the picture, don't you?"
"...Well, the floor's a mess now."
"Makino-san, I'll clean up the glass. Could you give me a rag to wipe the floor?"
"It's fine, Shanks-san! I'll take care of the cleaning..."
"You seem to really like cleaning."
-CRASH!
Higuma drew his sword and swept everything off the counter. Plates, glasses, and food rained down onto Shanks's head.
"This should make cleaning up much more worthwhile, don't you think?"
"What do you think you're doing to Shanks?!"
"No, Luffy! Stop!"
"Let me go, Sis! That guy is doing that to Shanks...!"
"What's up with that kid's eye color?"
"He seems much braver than a coward like you, anyway. Nothing to say, Red-Haired?"
"..."
"A coward trying to play pirate... no point staying if there's no booze. Let's go, boys."
"Yes, Boss. Let's find somewhere else."
"Listen to the Boss, cowards. If I see you again, I won't be so generous."
After the bandits left, Luffy, Makino, and the crew stared at Shanks. The crew members remained stiff-faced as a heavy silence filled the tavern, until finally—
"Pfft! Gwahahaha!"
"Bwahahaha!"
Starting with Shanks, the entire crew broke into fits of laughter.
"Gyahaha! The Boss really got it good!"
"You look pathetic, Boss! Hahaha!"
"WHAT'S SO FUNNY?!"
"Eh? What's wrong, Luffy?"
"Why didn't you fight, Shanks?!"
"Even if there were more of them, how can you just sit there and take that humiliation?!"
"Luffy... I get what you're saying, but it was just some spilled drinks and food. It's not worth getting so angry about, is it?"
"You just look like a fool! This isn't what I thought a pirate should be!!!"
-SLAM!
With those words, Luffy kicked the tavern door open and ran out.
'Shanks isn't a coward! He's a great man who was on the Pirate King's ship!'
'He probably just didn't think those bandits were even worth dealing with. But they have no idea, calling him a coward...!'
Luffy scanned his surroundings as he paced. An older man with a hat, glasses, and a short beard approached him.
"Luffy! I've been hearing you talk about wanting to be a pirate lately. Is it true?!"
"Ah, Mayor. Did you see those bandits?"
"They went that way, but— Wait, what happened to your eyes?!"
"That's not important right now!"
"Forget it, don't you go thinking of foolish things, Luffy! You're the grandson of the Marine Hero, Garp!"
"As a long-time friend of Garp, I can't let his grandson become a pirate...!"
"Got it! See you later!"
"Wh-where are you going?! Why are you looking for those bandits!"
******
Some time had passed since Luffy left the tavern, and the atmosphere inside had regained its lively spark.
The crew was back to drinking and talking amongst themselves. Shanks sat at the counter, chatting with Makino.
"I didn't intend to make Luffy hate me. Did I really look that foolish?"
"Well... I personally think being able to laugh after something like that is much cooler."
"Hahaha! Thanks for saying that, Makino!"
"By the way, we'll probably change our base and leave within the next month."
"I wanted to see Luffy one more time before— Huh?"
Suddenly, the noise outside the tavern seemed louder than the rowdy pirates within. Shanks fell silent. Sensing the change in their Captain, the rest of the crew also grew quiet. The shouts from outside became clear.
"This is terrible! Luffy's been caught by the bandits!"
"Where is the Mayor?!"
"The Mayor is already over there!"
"Something happened to Luffy?"
"I'm sorry, Shanks-san! I have to go too...!"
"We're going with you, Makino."
"Th-thank you!"
Shanks and Makino hurried out toward where the villagers were running, with the rest of the crew following naturally behind them.
As they arrived, Shanks saw Higuma standing over a battered Luffy, grinding his boot into the side of the boy's head.
"You useless bunch of idiots! How can a dozen of you fail to take down one brat!"
"W-We're sorry, Boss!"
"Nngh... apologize to Shanks!"
"Hah... this little pig just won't stay down!"
Higuma's lip was split, and three of his men were clutching their stomachs in pain. Facing the bandits, the Mayor was on his knees with his forehead pressed against the ground.
"Please! I don't know what happened between you and the boy, but please forgive him!"
"I will pay you whatever sum you require, just please, let him go!"
"Mayor...!"
"The old man knows how to survive. But I have no intention of letting this brat live."
"Because I've never let anyone who mouths off to me survive before!"
"Please don't...!"
"Stand up, Mayor."
"Red-Haired..."
"The coward pirate... you're still here? Did you finish cleaning the floors?"
"Gyahahaha!!!"
While the bandits laughed, Shanks helped the Mayor to his feet. Makino quickly supported the old man. Higuma glared at the approaching Shanks.
"Right, this brat only mouthed off because of you anyway."
"Screaming that you weren't a coward, demanding I apologize to you... he didn't know his place."
"...I see. So that's what happened, Luffy."
"Shanks...!"
-CLICK!
As Shanks walked closer, one of the surrounding bandits stepped forward and pressed a pistol against his temple.
"Hey, Red-Haired. Didn't I tell you I wouldn't be generous if I saw you again?"
"..."
"Too scared to even say a word, I see. Take one more step and your brains will be—"
"Are you still going to wait to fire?"
"Huh?"
"If you pull out a gun, you should be ready to bet your life on it."
Shanks gestured with one hand toward the muzzle pressed against his head.
"Because these aren't meant for idle threats."
-BANG!
A gunshot echoed the moment Shanks finished speaking.
-THUD!
But the one who fell was not Shanks; it was the bandit holding the gun. Higuma shrieked in shock.
"Wh-what! Where did that shot come from!"
"B-Boss! Over there! It was the guy standing at the very back of the village crowd!"
One of the bandits pointed frantically. Everyone—villagers and bandits alike—turned to see Yasopp walking forward. He held a pistol in each hand. Shanks gave him a casual nod.
"Oh~ nice shot, Yasopp."
"Piece of cake."
"B-Boss! That guy didn't just fire one shot!"
"What are you talking about!"
"It was six shots!"
"He shot the man's head, both hands holding the gun, the gun itself, and both legs! Six shots fired in a single instant!"
Higuma looked down at his fallen man. Blood was pouring from holes in the bandit's head, hands, and legs. His pistol had a single hole drilled through the center.
"Don't talk crap! How can anyone fire six shots that fast!"
"That's what you call skill. I suppose to a backwater bandit, it might look like a miracle."
"Y-You cowards!"
"Cowards?"
Beckman, who had appeared beside Shanks without anyone noticing, spoke up as he faced the trembling bandits.
"Stop talking nonsense... did you think we were saints or something?"
"The people standing before you are pirates."
"Shut up! This whole thing happened because this kid picked a fight with our Boss!"
"We have nothing more to do with you!"
"That's your problem."
Shanks, now glaring at them with an intensity that made the air feel heavy, continued.
"I don't care if you pour ale over my head or food on my clothes. I can even laugh if you spit on me. However!"
"No matter what the reason... I will never forgive anyone who hurts my friend!"
Tears welled up in Luffy's eyes as he heard those words while still pinned beneath Higuma's boot.
"Shanks...!"
"Don't act high and mighty, pirate! All of you, at once! Attack!"
"Yes, Boss!"
"We have the numbers!"
"Die, Red-Haired!"
"Stay back, Beckman. I'll handle this myself."
"Got it, Boss."
Shanks drew the sword at his hip.
-SLASH!
"Urk...!"
He cut the throat of the bandit leading the charge.
-SLASH!
He sliced through the wrist of the next one holding a sword. Then he cut through legs, necks, and wrists in a blinding blur. His blade was so fast that not a single drop of blood remained on the steel, and the bandits fell one by one in silence.
'This guy... he's terrifyingly strong!'
Watching his comrades fall, one bandit attempted to circle around Shanks and lunge toward the villagers.
'If I take the villagers hostage— Urk!'
But Lucky Roux suddenly appeared in front of him, catching the bandit by the throat.
"Judging strength based on numbers..."
"Gah... ak!"
"Is something only a frog in a well would do!"
Lucky Roux threw the bandit forward with incredible force.
-BOOM!
The flying bandit struck two others near Higuma, sending them flying. Moments later, the last of Higuma's men fell to Shanks's blade.
"Everyone... is so strong!" Luffy whispered.
"Wh-what are you all doing! Why are you all on the ground!"
"Still can't read the situation, can you, bandit?"
"If you really wanted a fair fight with us, you should have brought a Navy warship."
"Shanks!"
"W-Wait! This brat started the whole thing!"
"Who cares? Aren't you a wanted criminal?"
"Th-that's...!"
"If you really want to live, get off of Luffy..."
"Damn it!"
-POOF!
While Shanks was still speaking, Higuma threw something from his pocket onto the ground. The moment it hit the earth, it exploded into a dense cloud of smoke that billowed in every direction.
"What are you doing! Let me go!"
"Stay quiet if you don't want a hole in your skull!"
-BANG! BANG! BANG!
Using the smoke as cover, Higuma grabbed Luffy by the neck and fired several shots into the air to deter pursuers as he made his escape.
"Beckman! Is everyone alright? The villagers...!"
"We're fine, Boss. No one's hurt."
"Tch, a smoke bomb. Such a cheap trick...!"
"More importantly, Luffy! Luffy is gone!"
"Because it was only an 8 million bounty scrub... we grew too careless."
"Damn it! If only I hadn't let my guard down...!"
"Get it together, Boss! Screaming about it won't help. We need to go find him!"
"Right... everyone, fan out! Find Luffy!"
******
"Those fools will probably think I fled into the mountains since I'm a bandit."
"They'll never suspect I'd head out to sea."
While the Red-Haired Pirates searched for Luffy, Higuma was out at sea in a small boat. He rowed away from the village while Luffy sat tied up with ropes.
"Why did you take me?!"
"Even if I let you go back there, those guys wouldn't have let me live."
-SMACK!
Higuma shoved the oar into Luffy's mouth horizontally to silence him.
"That's why you're my hostage!"
"Mmmmgh...!"
'It hurts... I'm exhausted... besides, that strength I felt earlier isn't coming back.'
'If I only had that power...!'
"Mmmgh... mmmmgh!"
"Keep it down! Or else... huh?"
-SPLASH!
'What...? A wave suddenly out of nowhere...!'
Higuma felt the boat lurch. The shaking intensified and the intervals grew shorter.
-CRASH!
Suddenly, something gargantuan erupted from the sea surrounding the small boat.
"ROAAAAAAR!!!"
"A Sea King!"
"What is that thing?!"
"A monster of the deep!"
"Wait, there aren't things like this in the mountains!"
Luffy spat out the oar and screamed as he stared at the beast. The 'Lord of the Coast' possessed a head like a crocodile and a serpentine body, its head easily ten meters wide. With eyes like a snake, its slit pupils locked onto the two men, and it lunged forward with its massive jaws wide.
"D-Don't come any closer! Get back!"
-CRUNCH!
"AGHHHHHHHH!!!"
The Sea King bit the boat in half, shattering it instantly. Higuma was trapped between the broken planks as he was sucked into the monster's maw. Luffy was thrown clear by the impact, escaping the same fate, but he fell helplessly into the ocean.
"Help! Glub! My body... has no strength...!"
"LUFFY!"
"Shanks!"
Luffy turned toward the familiar voice and saw Shanks swimming toward him. But realizing the Sea King was much closer than Shanks, Luffy squeezed his eyes shut as his memories of the tavern flashed before his eyes.
"You just look like a fool! This isn't what I thought a pirate should be!!!"
'I'm sorry, Shanks. I didn't know anything...!'
-CRUNCH!
"Are you alright, Luffy?"
"...Shanks?"
Following the sound of bone-chilling impact, Luffy heard Shanks calling his name. Shanks was holding Luffy tightly with one arm, while his sharp, piercing gaze was locked onto the Sea King. He spoke only one word.
"Get lost."
"...!"
The Sea King's pupils quivered in sheer terror. After a moment of paralyzed silence, the monster submerged back into the deep. Shanks could feel Luffy's body trembling in his arms and spoke softly.
"Luffy, thank you for standing up for us."
"Sob... hic... Sh-Shanks..."
"Don't cry. You're a man, aren't you?"
"B-But... your arm...!!!"
Luffy saw it then. It wasn't the arm holding him, but Shanks's other arm. It had been completely torn off.
"It's fine, Luffy. It's just an arm."
"B-But..."
"I'm just glad you're safe."
"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry, Shanks!"
"...Let's go home, Luffy."
"Uwaaaaaaaaa!!!"
'Now I understand... why Shanks wouldn't take me on his ship.'
'Because the sea is a terrifying place... and because I am weak.'
'I have to get stronger... just like Shanks...!'
Shanks held Luffy until the rest of the crew arrived in their ship to retrieve them.
******
"Shanks... are you leaving now?"
"Going to miss me when I'm gone?"
About a month had passed since that day. The Red-Haired Pirates were gathered at the Foosha Village docks. They were loading their gear onto the ship. Luffy walked up to Shanks.
"It's sad, but I'll deal with it. I won't ask you to take me with you anymore."
"I'm still weak. So I'll become a pirate only after I've grown much stronger."
"Heeh~ You still think you'll be a pirate?"
"...I will!"
"I'll be even stronger than Shanks! And I'll gather a crew even stronger and cooler than yours!"
"I'll form a pirate crew and find the One Piece!"
"And then I'll become the Pirate King!"
"Wow... so you're going to surpass us, then."
"In that case..."
The Red-Haired Pirates all smiled faintly as they watched Luffy. Shanks took the straw hat off his head and spoke.
"I'll entrust this hat to you."
"...!"
Shanks placed the straw hat upon Luffy's head. Luffy looked up in shock.
"Shanks, this is...!"
"I told you before, this hat is my treasure."
"So come back and return it someday. Once you've become a great pirate."
With those words, Shanks turned and walked toward the ship. Luffy watched his back as Shanks passed his crew and climbed aboard. Beckman stood at the gangway.
"That kid's going to make it big."
"Yeah. He's exactly how I was when I was a kid."
Shanks disappeared into the ship, and the crew followed, waving farewell to Luffy. Shortly after, the ship's colors were raised and the anchor was hauled up. As the Red-Haired Pirates sailed away from Foosha Village, Luffy watched them and made a vow.
'I will... I definitely will come and return this to you, Shanks.'
And thus, ten years later, the boy's adventure begins in that very spot.