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There is a world with one continent and seas divided into six.
Most of that continent was a high plateau so tall that the clouds seemed within reach, and since the land was entirely red, it was called the Red Line.
The Red Line stretched in a ring around the world's center, its ends meeting seamlessly to form an unbroken chain.
That very Red Line split the world in two, and the route running straight through its center was known to many as the Grand Line.
Flanking both sides of the Grand Line were the Calm Belts—windless zones inhabited by massive sea creatures called Sea Kings, making passage virtually impossible.
Thus the seas of the world were divided into four by the Red Line and the Calm Belts: East Blue, West Blue, South Blue, and North Blue.
Furthermore, the Grand Line itself was split into two halves, making for six seas in total.
And on an island in East Blue's outer reaches lay Fusha Village, where, at this very moment, two people in a small tavern were talking.
"Ugh… Makino, sister, how much did I drink last night?"
"Don't you remember, Luffy? You polished off a barrel over a meter long all by yourself!"
The beautiful woman with dark green hair answered the straw-hatted man.
Called Makino, the woman sat back in her chair and looked down at the man she called Luffy.
"I must've really gone all out if I blacked out."
The man's thick black hair curled slightly at the ends, his shoulders were broad, and he stood nearly 190 centimeters tall.
He wore a red shirt open at the chest to show off his muscles, a thin black coat over it, and yellow pants. Above all, what stood out was the straw hat perched on his head.
"Ugh… my stomach's killing me."
"You're a lightweight if you emptied an entire barrel on your first time drinking. And today's your first voyage as a pirate—how are you going to cope with seasickness?"
"Be patient. I'm making you some warm noodles."
"…What about meat?"
"I'll pile it on."
"Thanks, sister."
As Makino turned to light the fire under her pot, Luffy slumped in his chair, staring at her back.
'Time to get my thoughts in order.'
'My name is Monkey D. Luffy, and I'm seventeen.'
'There are many unusual things about me, but the strangest is that I'm a reincarnator.'
'To be exact, after getting properly drunk for the first time in my life yesterday, I suddenly remembered my past life.'
'In that life, I grew up in an orphanage and never knew my parents.'
'And I was so frail as a child that I died of illness at the early age of seventeen.'
'It wasn't a special past life… parentless and sickly kids exist all over the world.'
'Just one of those hopeless kids you find here and there… that was me.'
As he looked at Makino's back, Luffy bowed his head and continued his thoughts as he gazed at his reflection in the large glass in front of him.
'Ha… right, the important part now isn't my past life, but the fact that I was reincarnated as the protagonist of a manga world.'
'One Piece was hugely famous in my past life and was my favorite manga.'
'Most people in the One Piece world live on countless islands across the sea, not on the Red Line.'
'So the places the protagonist and his crew travel to are mostly islands.'
'And that protagonist is the straw-hatted pirate Monkey D. Luffy—me, the Luffy before and now.'
'Luffy's signature ability was to make his body stretch like rubber.'
'But then why do I have a different power…'
"Luffy, what are you thinking about so hard?"
"Huh?"
"I've finished the noodles—aren't you going to eat?"
Hearing Makino's voice, Luffy lifted his head just as Makino set the giant meter-wide pot in front of him.
In that pot was a dark brown broth with noodles, and it was loaded with meat.
"I've never seen you stay still in front of food, Luffy. You must be thinking a lot since today's your first voyage."
"I'm wrestling with a big decision—whether to be a pirate or not."
"Why all of a sudden, Luffy? You told Ace that you'd set sail today three years ago, didn't you?"
"Sister… why did I say I wanted adventures until yesterday?"
"You've experienced how scary this world can be."
"Luffy, is this because of what happened a year ago…"
"I'll eat the noodles."
"…Alright."
And with that, Luffy started eating the noodles.
He raised the bowl with both hands to slurp the broth, then used his chopsticks to shovel noodles and meat into his mouth. Makino watched him with sorrow in her eyes.
Just then, someone opened the tavern door and shouted,
"So you're with Makino, Luffy!"
"Oh, Dadan, you're here?"
"You doing okay, Luffy? I didn't expect you to drink that much yesterday."
"Once I started, I couldn't stop. Dadan, how are you feeling?"
"Everyone else passed out until only you and me were left."
"Ha ha ha ha! You really think my tolerance matches a kid's?"
"Are you okay, Dadan? There's leftover broth from Luffy's noodles…"
"Ah… mind if I try some?"
"Where's the big talk about your tolerance?"
"I'm the best drinker in Fusha Village, and you're the one who kept up with me till the end."
While Makino turned back to relight the fire under the pot of broth, Dadan began drinking the noodles' broth and stared at the emptied bowl in front of Luffy.
"Impressive… even drunk, you managed your straw hat."
"How was I taking care of it when I was drunk?"
"You kept muttering how important your hat was, and only quieted down when someone placed it on your head."
"Luffy, is that straw hat really that precious to you?"
"Of course… that straw hat is my treasure."
Luffy said this, staring at the straw hat in his hands. Makino spoke up.
"Luffy, if you don't want to go today, you don't have to board the ship."
"What are you saying, Makino? Luffy—"
"Dadan, it's…"
"No, sister, I'm going today."
"…Are you sure?"
"I promised… I said I'd come back to return the hat."
With those words, Luffy recalled memories from beyond his conscious mind.
*****
"To the voyage of the Red Hair Pirates, cheers!"
"Cheers!"
Ten years ago, in a tavern in Fusha Village.
Younger than twenty, Makino served beers as the tavern buzzed with a dozen or so men.
At their center was a man with red hair under a straw hat and a scar across his left eye, looking like a beast's claw mark.
In front of that man, a boy looked up and shouted,
"Tell me, Shanks!"
"I already told you, Luffy!"
"I heard from the others that you were a crewmate of the Pirate King! And you were at his execution!"
"So I need to hear about Gold Roger's death from you directly!"
"But who was it that told Luffy that?!"
"I think it was me, boss."
"You did? I thought it was me who told him…"
"I heard it from Lucky Roo."
"Ah, boss! I was so drunk yesterday I blurted it out to Luffy!"
"Ha ha ha ha ha!!!"
Hearing what seven-year-old Luffy said, Shanks laughed and his crewmember Lucky Roo replied.
He was so fat he looked like a round ball and wore goggles; the other crew burst into laughter at his words.
"Just once, tell me yourself, Shanks! I won't ask again!"
"All right, Luffy. This time I'll tell you myself, so listen closely."
"Thank you, Shanks!"
"Okay… it all happened twelve years ago.
Captain Roger's execution took place in his hometown, Loguetown, on a bright sunny day."
As Shanks began the story, everyone in the tavern, including Luffy, leaned in to listen.
"The man stepping onto the execution platform stood tall and proud—it was hard to believe he faced death."
"My crew and I watched from hiding when someone in the crowd shouted…"
"'Where is the One Piece?'"
"The One Piece, you say!"
"Yes, Luffy, the greatest treasure in the world that Roger found."
"So what did Roger say?!"
"That man… said,"
Then Shanks recalled the memory.
In his memory, Shanks watched a middle-aged man sitting atop a tall execution platform.
With messy black hair and a moustache reaching from cheek to cheek, Gol D. Roger spoke,
"My treasure? If you want it, I'll let you have it."
"Look for it! I left everything in that place!"
"Waaaaaaa!!!"
"I never get tired of hearing that!"
"Of course! It marks the start of the Great Pirate Era!"
"The one who finds One Piece will be the Pirate King! It's common knowledge now!"
As Shanks's crew cheered, Luffy spoke to him directly,
"I've decided, Shanks! I'm going to find the One Piece and become the Pirate King!"
"So let me join your crew!"
"Pahaha! You're just a kid—how could you be a pirate?"
"I'm not a kid!"
"But you're seven—too young to join the ship."
"Wait until you're at least ten, then maybe I'll think about it."
"Wait ten more years… If you don't want me to bring you aboard, just say so."
"You look so down, Luffy. Giving up because of one word from the boss?"
"Yasopp…"
At this, a man with long braided brown dreadlocks and a long rifle on his back approached Luffy with Lucky Roo.
"As a pirate, you can adventure on countless islands across the great seas, right, Luffy?"
"Of course, Yasopp! Pirates are the freest people in the world!"
"The freest?"
"Right, Luffy!"
'Freedom, adventure… my heart races just hearing it. There's no way I can give up!'
With Yasopp and Lucky Roo's words, Luffy's face lit up. Shanks frowned and said,
"You two, don't fill Luffy's head with weird ideas."
"Why, boss? Couldn't we let him aboard at least once?"
"Yasopp said it—give him one trip! I like him!"
"Fine, if one of you two steps off the ship, I'll consider it."
"Ah… can't help it."
"Let's get another drink, Yasopp!"
They turned and left, prompting Luffy to shout,
"You two are rotten! You were helping me just a moment ago!"
"Luffy, try to understand the boss's feelings."
"What do you mean, Beckman?"
Beckman, his black hair slicked back and a cigarette in his mouth, spoke to Luffy.
"The boss is the captain leading a pirate crew."
"He knows pirate life is fun, but also how dangerous it can be."
"Come closer."
"Hm?"
"The Pirate King was the captain of the ship our boss sailed on."
"Of course we pirates cheer his coming because it heralded the Great Pirate Era."
"But for the boss, recalling that day isn't exactly pleasant."
"Oh… I see."
'Beckman's right. It might be painful for Shanks… Did I ask for something I shouldn't have?'
Looking at Shanks sitting at the table, Luffy saw a hint of bitter memory on his face.
"The boss worries about you, Luffy. Understand?"
"Beckman… but he's teasing me separately from that, right?"
"Give it up, Luffy! The sea doesn't cut you slack just because you're a kid!"
"See, he's teasing me!"
"Well… maybe a bit."
"Don't tease me, Shanks!"
As Luffy shouted this, Makino placed plates of stir-fried meat in front of Shanks and Luffy.
"Food's ready."
"Ah! Thanks, Makino!"
"Here you go, Luffy."
"You look happy, Shanks?"
"Thanks to Luffy, I'm always happy. We've been teasing you for over a year since making this town our base, and I never get bored."
"Hum hum hum… sister, I'll never be an adult who torments kids like this."
"Huh? Did you just admit you're a kid?"
"Ah, no, that's not it…!"
"You admitted it? You said you're a kid?"
"Geez… really!"
Shanks watched Luffy dive into the stir-fried meat in front of him.
"Just you wait, hum hum hum… when I've eaten enough and grow up, I'll be stronger and cooler than you!"
"Ha ha ha! Take it slow, Luffy, or you'll get sick… Huh?"
Shanks noticed Luffy chewing on a strange fruit.
The fruit had a purple rind covered in swirl patterns and symbols.
"Uwaaack! What is this? It's awful!"
"L-Luffy! Where did you get that fruit?"
"Oh… sorry. I swiped it because it looked interesting when you guys unloaded supplies."
"What's up, Captain?"
"This is bad, Yasopp! Luffy ate the [Gum-Gum Fruit]!"
At Shanks's shout, everyone looked at Luffy in shock.
Lucky Roo opened a box and discovered it empty.
"The box for the [Gum-Gum Fruit] is empty. Luffy must've eaten it!"
"What kind of fruit is that…"
"Luffy, your habit of stealing things so young…"
"Okay, I'm sorry!"
Shanks grabbed Luffy's wrists and lifted him, only for Luffy to shout…
"W-What's happening to my hands?!"
"Luffy! Look at your eyes!"
Luffy's hands glowed faintly with golden energy, and his irises turned gold.
"Help me, Makino! Shanks is hurting my hands…!"
"It's not him! It's because of the fruit you just ate!"
Shanks released Luffy's wrists, and Luffy fell off his chair.
Crash!
As he hit the table, Luffy's glowing hands smashed it into pieces.
"Wow… I've gotten incredibly strong, Shanks!"
"Captain! Luffy's gotten stronger!"
"He ate just one fruit and got that strong…"
"Quiet, you lot!"
Amid the chaos, Shanks watched the golden glow fade from Luffy's hands and continued,
"Luffy… what you ate is a [Devil Fruit]. It grants strange powers!"
"And the [Gum-Gum Fruit] specifically turns your body into rubber!"
"Rubber?"
Hearing this, Luffy pinched his left arm.
"Aah! It's not stretching!"
"They call it the Gum-Gum Fruit, but actually… Ah, no, that's not all!"
"[Devil Fruits] also rob you of your strength in the water, so you can't swim!"
"Can't swim? Then how can I be a pirate!"
"No one told you to eat ours!"
Bang!
Just then, over twenty men burst into the tavern.
At their front was a middle-aged man with unkempt black hair and a short beard.
He strode in and sneered,
"I heard there were pirates here… they all look like idiots."
"Ha ha ha ha ha!"
His underlings laughed and mocked the pirates.
The pirates set down their drinks and faced them as their boss walked forward to Makino and said,
"I'm Higuma, leader of the bandits from Mount Corvo behind the village."
"We came to buy some booze, not make trouble. Sell us ten barrels."
"I'm sorry, we're out of liquor right now."
"Are they drinking water here?"
"Yes, that's all they have."
"That's right. Our pirate crew cleared this place out, sorry about that."
"Shanks…"
"What I have here is unopened. Would this do?"
Clink!
Before Shanks finished speaking, Higuma smashed the bottle from his hand.
Liquor splashed onto Shanks's head as Higuma taunted him,
"Hey redhead, who do you think you are, offering me something not even fit for sleeping in?"
"My bounty is 8 million Berries. I earned it by sending brats like you to an early grave."
"Considering East Blue's average bounty is 3 million, does that answer your question?"
"…the floor's soaked."
"Makino, clean up the broken glass, and get a rag."
"I can handle it, Shanks…"
"You must really love cleaning, huh?"
Slash!
Higuma drew his sword from his waist and slashed the table's contents.
Shards of plates, cups, and food rained onto Shanks's head.
"Now this is worth cleaning up!"
"What are you doing to Shanks!"
"Don't ruin this, Luffy!"
"Let go, sister! He's—"
Higuma kicked Luffy's head as he stood nearby.
"That brat's eyes… what's with that color?"
"He looks braver than you lot. No comment, redhead?"
"…"
Higuma laughed and turned away.
"Puny pirates… nothing to keep you here without booze. Let's go."
"Yes boss, let's move on."
"Remember, curb your bravery. If I see you again, it won't go well."
With that, the bandits left the tavern.
Luffy, Makino, and the crew stared at Shanks in silence until Shanks burst into laughter.
"Puh! Pu ha ha ha ha!"
"Ha ha ha ha ha!!!"
Shanks's laughter spurred the crew to laugh along.
"Ha ha! The boss got messed up!"
"Look at him—ha ha!"
"What's so funny!"
"Hey, why the look, Luffy?"
"Why didn't you fight back, Shanks?"
"Even if they outnumber you, why stand there and take it?!"
"Luffy… I get what you're saying, but it was just drinks and food spilled, not worth getting angry over."
"It's just foolish! That's not the pirate I imagined!"
Bang!
With that, Luffy stormed out of the tavern.
'Shanks isn't a coward! He's amazing enough to sail with the Pirate King!'
'He must have spared those bandits because they weren't worth his time. Yet they call him a coward…!'
As Luffy looked around, a middle-aged man with a straw hat and glasses, short beard, approached.
"Luffy! Is it true you've been saying you want to become a pirate?"
"Oh, Grandpa Chief, did you see those bandits?"
"They headed that way… but what happened to your eyes?!"
"That's not important now!"
"Anyway, don't be foolish, Luffy. You're the grandson of Vice Admiral Garp!"
"I've known Garp for years. I can't let his grandson become a pirate…!"
"Fine! See you later!"
"Hey, where are you going? Why chase the bandits?!"
*****
Some time after Luffy left the tavern, the place had regained its energy.
The crew drank and chatted, and Shanks sat at the table talking with Makino.
"I didn't mean to make Luffy hate me. Did I look foolish?"
"Not at all… I think being able to laugh after something like that is even more admirable."
"Ha ha ha! Thanks, Makino!"
"By the way, within a month we'll move our base off this island."
"Before that, maybe I'll see Luffy again… Huh?"
At that moment, the noise outside the tavern grew louder than the tavern itself, and Shanks fell silent.
The crew also quieted, making the sounds outside clear:
"It's serious! Luffy's been captured by those bandits!"
"Where's the chief?"
"The chief's out there too!"
"What happened to Luffy?"
"I'm sorry, Shanks! I have to go…!"
"Makino, come with me."
"T-Thank you!"
Shanks and Makino rushed out, followed by the crew.
What met Shanks's eyes was the bandits surrounding Luffy, as Higuma stomped on Luffy's head.
"Hey you idiots! Why can't a bunch of you take down one kid?!"
"S-Sorry, boss!"
"Grrr… apologize to Shanks!"
"Ha… you boar-like brute…!"
Higuma's lip was busted and three of his men clutched their stomachs.
The chief knelt with his head to the ground and begged,
"Please! I don't know what happened between you and the boy, but show mercy!"
"I'll pay you if you'll let him go!"
"Chief…!"
"Clever old man… but I have no intention of sparing this brat."
"I've never spared anyone who disrespected me!"
"Please…!"
"Get up, Chief."
"Redhead…"
"Cowardly pirate… still here? Taken up cleaning with a mop?"
"Ha ha ha ha ha!"
Higuma and his men laughed as Shanks helped the chief to his feet.
Makino supported the chief with one arm, and Higuma said to Shanks,
"Yes, this brat disrespected me because of you."
"He told me you weren't a coward, then demanded I apologize… clueless fool."
"…Is that so, Luffy."
"Shanks…!"
Click!
As Shanks advanced, one bandit pressed a gun to his temple and sneered,
"Redhead, didn't I warn you? Next time, no mercy."
"..."
"Scared stiff, eh? One more step and your head…"
"You gonna shoot?"
"Huh?"
"If you draw your gun, you better be willing to die."
Shanks pointed at the barrel pressed against his head and said,
"This isn't just a threat."
Bang!
The gunshot rang out.
Thud!
It was not Shanks who fell but the bandit holding the gun. Higuma cried,
"Wha-what? Who shot?!"
"That way, boss! The last guy in town did it."
One of the bandits pointed, and they saw Yasopp walking up holding two pistols.
Shanks said to him,
"Nice shot, Yasopp."
"Piece of cake."
"B-Boss! He shot more than once!"
"What are you talking about?"
"Six times! To the head, both hands, both legs—six shots in one go!"
Higuma saw his fallen underling bleeding from six bullet wounds, and the bandit's pistol had a hole in its barrel.
"Stop your nonsense! Six shots at once?!"
"That's a technique. To you country bandits, it must look like art."
"C... cowardly scum!"
"Cowardly?"
As Higuma glared at Yasopp, Beckman said,
"You foolish lot—did you think we're saints?"
"Right in front of you are pirates."
"Shut up! This mess started 'cause that kid got mouthy at our boss!"
"I have no business with you!"
"That's your problem."
Shanks glared at the bandits and declared,
"I can take getting my booze or food spilled on me, but!"
"No one hurts my friends."
As Shanks spoke, tears welled in Luffy's eyes under Higuma's boot.
"Shanks…!"
"Don't get cocky, pirate! Attack all at once!"
"Yes, boss!"
"We have the numbers!"
"Die, redhead!"
"Don't interfere, Beck! I'll handle this."
"Right, boss."
Shanks drew his sword…
Slash!
Then he slashed the throat of the bandit charging first.
Slash!
He cut off the next one's wrist, then the next's leg, then another's throat, and another's wrist.
The blade moved so fast no blood splattered; the bandits fell silently.
'He's… unbelievably strong!'
Seeing his men fall, one bandit ran past Shanks to attack the civilians.
'So he can use hostages… Ugh!'
Lucky Roo sprang forward, grabbed the bandit, and said,
"Deciding strength by numbers…"
"Kraaaagh…!"
"That's just what frogs in a well think!"
Roo hurled the bandit at two others, sending them crashing past Higuma.
Shanks's onslaught ended, and all of Higuma's men lay defeated.
Luffy exclaimed,
"You guys… are so strong!"
"What are you all doing? Why are you lying there?!"
"Bandit boss, you're not getting this?"
"If you want a real fight, bring a warship."
"Shanks!"
"Hold on! The kid started this!"
"Whatever, you're the wanted man, right?"
"Th-That's…"
"If you want to live, stay away from Luffy…"
"Damn!"
Bang!
Higuma threw something to the ground, releasing smoke.
"What are you doing? Let me go!"
"Stay still if you value your life."
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Amid the smoke, Higuma grabbed Luffy's neck, fired into the air, and fled.
"Beck! Are the others okay? And the villagers…?"
"We're fine, boss. No one was hurt."
"Smoke bombs… too flashy."
"More important—Luffy's gone!"
"We underestimated him as an eight-million-berry bounty. Damn it!"
"Get it together, boss! Stop talking, let's search!"
"Right… spread out! Find Luffy!"
*****
"They'll think I fled to the mountains with the bandits."
"They won't expect me to swim away."
While the Red Hair Pirates searched, Higuma rowed a small boat away from the village.
Luffy was tied with ropes onboard.
"Why did you kidnap me?!"
"Even if I let you go earlier, they might kill me."
Thunk!
Higuma shoved an oar into Luffy's mouth and continued,
"That's why you're collateral!"
"Mmmph…!"
'It hurts… and I can't summon the power I had earlier.'
'If only I had that power…!'
"Stop making noise!"
Splash!
Suddenly, the boat rocked violently.
The rocking grew stronger and faster.
Slash!
Something enormous burst from the water around their boat.
"Kyaaaaa!!!"
"Sea King!"
"What is that?!"
"A sea monster!"
"We don't have these on land!"
With the oar in his mouth, Luffy shouted at the Sea King.
The nearshore giant had an alligator-like head and a snake-like body over ten meters thick.
Its vertical slit eyes glowed as it opened its huge jaw toward their boat.
"Don't come near! Stay away!"
Crash!
It bit the boat to splinters, swallowing Higuma among the wreckage.
Thanks to the blast, Luffy was thrown clear and fell into the sea.
"Splash! Splash! I still have strength…!"
"Luffy!"
"Shanks!"
Luffy looked toward the voice and saw Shanks swimming to him.
Realizing the Sea King was closer to him than Shanks, Luffy shut his eyes and recalled the tavern incident:
"That's just foolish! That's not the pirate I imagined!!!"
'I'm sorry, Shanks. I didn't know…!'
Crash!
As something broke, Luffy opened his eyes to see Shanks calling him.
He held Luffy with one arm and glared at the Sea King, saying,
"Go away."
"…!"
Hearing this, the confused Sea King paused, then retreated into the depths.
Shanks noticed Luffy trembling in his arms and said,
"Thank you for fighting for us, Luffy."
"Sob… Sh-Shanks…"
"Don't cry, kid. You're a man."
"But… Shanks's arm…!!!"
Luffy saw that Shanks's other arm was gone.
"It's okay, Luffy. It's just one arm."
"B-But…"
"I'm just glad you're safe."
"I'm sorry… sorry, Shanks!"
"Let's go back, Luffy."
"Waaaah!!!"
'Now I understand why Shanks didn't let me aboard.'
'The sea's terrifying… and I'm weak.'
'So I have to get stronger… like Shanks…!'
Shanks held Luffy until his crew's ship came to them.
*****
"Shanks… are you really leaving?"
"Going feels bittersweet, doesn't it?"
A month after that event, the Red Hair Pirates gathered at Fusha Village's harbor.
They loaded cargo onto the ship, and Luffy approached Shanks.
"I'll miss you, but I can't ask to come along."
"I'm still weak, so I'll become a pirate after I get stronger."
"Heh—do you really think you can become a pirate?"
"…I will!"
"I'll become as strong as you, Shanks! Gather brave and cool crewmates like you did!"
"I'll form a crew and find the One Piece!"
"And I'll become the Pirate King!"
At Luffy's words, the Red Hair Pirates smiled at him.
Shanks removed his straw hat and said,
"I leave this hat with you."
"…!"
He placed the hat on Luffy's head. Luffy gasped,
"Shanks, this…"
"I told you before—it's precious."
"So come back and return it, when you've become a great pirate."
With that, Shanks headed to the ship, and Luffy watched his back.
Passing his crew, Shanks boarded, and Beckman said,
"He's going to do big things."
"Yeah, he was like that when I was young."
They waved to Luffy as they set sail.
The ship's flag rose, and the anchor was weighed.
The Red Hair Pirates' ship departed Fusha Village, and Luffy thought,
'I will… definitely come back for this, Shanks.'
And the boy's adventure begins in exactly ten years, right from that spot.