Luffy, Zoro, and Nami stepped ashore, laughing as they curiously surveyed the peaceful little island before them.
"So this is the village where Uncle Yasopp lives? Nice place! Though it kind of looks like Windmill Village."
Luffy stretched his neck, looking around excitedly.
"Hey, Luffy, we should find the village first and stock up on fresh water and food," Nami said. "Most islands live off fishing unless they have some famous local specialty, so they naturally end up looking pretty similar."
Suddenly...
Whoosh! Boom!
A sharp whistle split the air before a small explosion erupted in the clearing several meters ahead of them, dirt flying everywhere.
"Hm?"
Zoro's hand instantly rested on the hilt of Wado Ichimonji, his eyes locking onto the direction the projectile had come from.
Nami jumped in surprise and instinctively moved in front of Luffy and Zoro.
Standing atop the nearby hillside was Usopp, aiming an enormous slingshot straight at them.
His eyes were sharp with vigilance as he shouted,
"Stop right there, pirates! You're not welcome here! Leave this island immediately!"
The warning shot had landed with perfect precision just in front of them. It displayed both its power and his determination.
Usopp carefully studied the three strangers below.
A tiny boat... only three people...
A goofy guy wearing a straw hat... a green-haired swordsman... and a pretty orange-haired navigator.
They looked nothing like the vicious pirates he'd imagined.
Most pirates would storm onto an island screaming about looting.
These three looked more like tourists.
That eased his nerves slightly.
Maybe I can bluff them into leaving.
Getting hurt still hurts, after all.
Even so, he didn't dare lower his guard.
His slingshot slowly shifted until it pointed directly at the most dangerous-looking person...
Zoro.
The moment his sights settled on the swordsman, Usopp's heart skipped a beat.
It felt as though an invisible blade had been placed against his throat.
The pressure radiating from that swordsman was overwhelming.
He's strong.
...But I'm not weak either!
Nami's eyes darted around before a sweet, harmless smile spread across her face.
She stepped forward.
"Easy there, handsome. There's no need to be so tense. We're not bad pirates. We're just passing through and need to replenish our food and water. Look at our tiny ship. What kind of threat could we possibly be?"
She was clearly trying the charm offensive.
Usopp's cheeks flushed slightly as he looked at the beautiful navigator.
Even so, the hand gripping his slingshot remained rock steady.
Not even a single step backward.
He took a deep breath before baring his shark-like teeth.
"Miss, I can appreciate beauty, but that's all it is... appreciation! My heart belongs to someone else! Don't think a trick like this is going to fool me!"
"Your heart?"
Luffy tilted his head in complete confusion.
"Can you eat that?"
Usopp's serious expression instantly shattered.
The image of Kaya's smiling face flashed through his mind, turning his face bright red.
His father was always talking about wanting to meet his future daughter-in-law, but Usopp had never allowed it.
He knew his father was a famous pirate.
He didn't want Kaya getting frightened.
Even Kaya's butler had openly admitted he was terrified of Yasopp and deliberately avoided him whenever possible.
Usopp had always found that strange.
But he wasn't the naive child he used to be.
He understood that pirates weren't welcomed by most people.
In fact, many hated them.
...Wait.
Wasn't I just thinking about Kaya?
The thought of her smile made him blush even harder.
He stomped his foot in embarrassment and shouted,
"You idiots! I'm giving you a serious warning! Leave this island now, or don't blame me for what happens next!"
"He totally got flustered just now, didn't he?" Zoro muttered.
"Yeah... I think he did," Luffy nodded.
Seeing that her beauty tactic had completely failed, Nami sighed and spread her hands.
"Listen, if we don't replenish our supplies, we won't even make it to the next island. We'll pay for everything. Isn't that enough?"
Usopp immediately pointed the slingshot toward her again.
"I'm sorry. If I were the only one here, maybe I'd believe you."
"But my family is behind me."
"So is my entire village."
"I can't gamble their safety on your kindness."
"Please leave."
The instant those words left his mouth...
Usopp suddenly felt two undisguised killing intents behind those calm faces.
It was as if two wild beasts had fixed their eyes on him.
Cold sweat instantly soaked his back.
The green-haired swordsman...
And... the straw hat guy?
Their eyes changed!
Still...
Usopp gritted his teeth and refused to take even a single step back.
He couldn't afford to show weakness.
He drew back his slingshot, ready to fire his special ammunition at any moment.
The atmosphere instantly became razor-sharp.
Even the air seemed to freeze.
Zoro's hand tightened around Wado Ichimonji as a grin filled with fighting spirit spread across his face.
"Oh? Guess we're doing this the hard way."
Luffy also dropped his carefree smile.
He pulled the brim of his straw hat lower, his rubber arms hanging loosely as he entered a fighting stance.
Nami looked between the two sides and rubbed her forehead.
"So much for negotiating..."
"I swear, I hate dealing with stubborn idiots."
Then she looked at her own equally stubborn captain and swordsman.
Fine.
I'll let my two blockheads deal with the other blockhead.
As the tension reached its peak, Luffy stepped forward.
His rubber arm stretched back, gathering power.
"If talking doesn't work..."
"We'll settle it with our fists!"
"I'm gonna send you flying, then we'll go into the village and get our supplies!"
Usopp snorted.
"Idiot! If you knock me out, then of course you'll be able to walk right into the village!"
He pulled his slingshot to full draw.
"Come at me!"
"I won't lose!"
"I'll protect this village no matter what!"
Nami tugged lightly on Zoro's sleeve.
"Hey, Moss Head. Aren't you going to help?"
Zoro folded his arms over his swords and shook his head.
"This is their fight."
"And besides..."
"I have no interest in ganging up on someone who's risking his life to protect his village."
Instead, there was genuine admiration in his eyes.
"Then let's fight!"
Luffy shouted.
"Gum-Gum Pistol!"
His rubber arm shot forward like a cannon.
But instead of meeting the attack...
Usopp turned around and ran.
Without the slightest hesitation.
"Huh?!"
Luffy's punch sailed harmlessly through empty air.
He froze.
Zoro and Nami stared in disbelief.
Nami couldn't help yelling,
"Hey! You were acting so heroic a second ago! Why are you running now?!"
Even Zoro twitched.
"What kind of strategy is that...?"
As Usopp sprinted through the forest paths he knew like the back of his hand, he shouted over his shoulder,
"Idiot! I'm a sniper!"
"Why would I fight a rubber monster in close combat?!"
He knew exactly where his advantage lay.
His hand-to-hand combat couldn't compare to Luffy's.
But this was his home.
He knew every inch of the terrain.
And he'd already prepared plenty of traps.
"Take this!"
Sliding sideways, he fired his slingshot.
"Smoke Star!"
Boom!
A dense cloud of smoke instantly engulfed the area, cutting off Luffy's vision.
"Cough! Cough! It stings!"
Luffy waved his arms wildly, trying to clear the smoke.
Taking advantage of the cover, Usopp circled to the side.
"Rapid Fire! Gunpowder Stars!"
Several blazing projectiles screamed through the air toward Luffy.
"Wah! That was close!"
Luffy hastily dodged as the fiery shots exploded around him.
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