Looking at Masira Pirate Crew in front of him, Orochimaru couldn't help but rub his temples, a pained expression on his face.
Recalling the conversation between Luffy and Masira just now, he felt a headache.
"I have the strength to become a Shichibukai!" Masira declared confidently.
Luffy asked curiously, "What's your special talent?"
Masira answered smugly, "My hair is extra long; I haven't cut it in 25 years!"
Hearing this answer, Orochimaru's expression almost cracked. Why would such an idiot think he had the strength to become a Shichibukai? He began to wonder if he too would be infected by this idiocy, and couldn't help but shiver.
"No, I can't stay with these idiots any longer." Orochimaru decided to return to his laboratory immediately; he needed to think about something serious.
The going merry should be reaching its limit soon... but what then?
Orochimaru had a bit of a headache; there wasn't enough time... He frowned, his gaze fixed on the contents of the petri dish, feeling a wave of irritation.
He sighed, deciding to leave these things for now. After all, there were no other better options.
"Hmm..." Orochimaru muttered to himself, "If Merry wants to stay..."
His eyes became complex, as if he was contemplating something important, and he buried himself back into his research on experiments that could accelerate cell evolution.
Meanwhile, the storm outside grew fiercer, and the going merry rocked more violently.
When Orochimaru emerged from the laboratory again, he saw the crested head on the going merry's bow. ⚆ ɞ ⚆
A phrase suddenly popped into his mind:
"You're too beautiful, chicken~ Oh~ baby."
Orochimaru raised his hand and slapped himself... What kind of rubbish were these Blue Star people carving into their souls? Get out of my head!
Chopper, half his body exposed, secretly watched Orochimaru hitting himself. "Orochimaru, are you alright?"
"I'm fine, Chopper." Orochimaru stroked Chopper's fluffy little head, and instantly felt his mind and body healed.
He picked up the bento from its usual spot and began to eat. In the lab, he relied solely on nutrient fluids to survive, but Sanji's food was delicious.
"So, why did you make Merry look like this?" Orochimaru was very puzzled.
Chopper recounted their encounter with Mont Blanc. "So, we're going to ride the Knock Up Stream, and that way we can get to Sky Island."
Orochimaru tilted his head and blinked, his eyes full of confusion. "What does that have to do with Merry wearing a crest? To make Merry think she's a chicken? So she can fly?"
"Ah... ah..." Chopper was confused by the question... Yeah, why?
The two sat on the deck, staring blankly at Merry's crest.
Soon, a whirlpool appeared. The dark whirlpool was terrifying to behold, and the going merry was gradually sucked into it.
Nami looked at Luffy, her face pale.
"Should we... go back?"
"Missing such a grand adventure would be a lifelong regret. This is the dream of all dream islands!" Luffy's eyes gleamed, completely fearless.
Usopp and Nami cried to the heavens, while Orochimaru pondered the probability of his resurrection if they were sucked in.
Hmm... he should be able to revive on his snake clone in Foosha Village, and then use other people's human tissue for some Edo Tensei? Then transplant his soul into a clone? Or research Dan's Spirit Transformation Jutsu? No, no... he hadn't researched the souls of the Pirate World yet.
Suddenly, the going merry, which had been sucked into the whirlpool, stopped. The sea surface became calm.
"No! The seabed eruption has started, so the eye of the whirlpool has temporarily disappeared from the seabed!" Nami's voice trembled slightly.
"Ah hahahahahahaha!" An uncomfortable laugh rang out as a giant raft slid over. Several people stood on it, one of them a toothless man laughing loudly.
"Straw Hat, I've come for your head, worth 100 million Berries... Hahahaha!"
"My head isn't worth 100 million!" Luffy scratched his head.
"As expected, you still don't know! Your head is now worth 100 million Berries, and the bounty poster is out!" Blackbeard Teach held up Luffy's new bounty poster.
Straw Hat Luffy, Bounty: 100,000,000 Berries, Captain of the Straw Hat Pirate Crew, Paramecia Gum-Gum Fruit User, Dead or Alive.
"And Pirate Hunter Zoro! Your head is 60 million Berries!"
Pirate Hunter Roronoa Zoro, Former Pirate Hunter, Iron-Cutting Swordsman, Dead or Alive.
Blackbeard took out another bounty poster from the side.
"Oh, and this woman's:
Seductive Ninja Orochimaru (First fun bounty, will be serious later).
Bounty: 98,000,000 Berries. But I haven't seen this woman on your ship, zehahahahaha... She's not bad-looking. If she's on your ship, I'll snatch her too and make her my woman!"
Luffy's eyes widened as he carefully looked at Orochimaru's poster. The photo showed him in Alabasta dancer attire. He looked closely.
Luffy's expression was subtle, as if he wanted to speak but hesitated. "Um... do you... want to look at the notes below?"
Blackbeard looked at Luffy's expression, somewhat puzzled. He took the bounty poster, held it close to his eyes, and examined it carefully.
"first mate, Seductive Ninja Orochimaru, suspected Animal-type Mythical Zoan, Snake-Snake Fruit user.
Can use multiple natural elements, possesses beauty comparable to Empress Boa Hancock. But please note!
Gender: 'Male!'
Allegedly seduced a certain Marine Admiral and former Shichibukai Crocodile, extremely dangerous! According to the testimony of a certain Sand Crocodile, it was not Straw Hat Luffy who defeated him, but this person's conspiracy!"
After reading it, Blackbeard's expression became a bit hard to maintain.
"Anyway... all your heads are mine today!"
Luffy was about to say something when he noticed the air next to him twisting. He stiffly turned his head, looking at the half-snake Orochimaru, whose tail was constantly slapping the going merry's deck.
"Orochimaru! Calm down, calm down! The ocean current is coming soon!"
Chopper, at Usopp's signal, hugged Orochimaru's tail, his eyes shining with admiration. ٩(๑ᵒ̴̶̷͈᷄ᗨᵒ̴̶̷͈᷅)و
"Wow... Orochimaru is so amazing! His first bounty is 98 million... Will I have a bounty too someday?"
"Yes, yes, yes, very amazing! (ง ˙꒳˙)ว✧" Usopp chimed in. "Oh, oh, oh... the amazing Ninja Orochimaru, right! Zoro, Sanji!"
"Oh, oh, oh... right." At Usopp's meaningful glance, the others also saw Orochimaru's appearance and collectively nodded.
"Ahem... not really." Orochimaru turned his head, his ears a little red.
Robin saw Orochimaru's appearance and nodded.
"Hmm... Kawaii, ne."
Nami quickly moved and stood in front of Orochimaru, blocking Blackbeard's view.
"Oh, right, Orochimaru! The Knock Up Stream is about to arrive. Don't you need to pack up your laboratory? I remember you had a very important secret experiment that you said you'd let us know about when it succeeded, right? It's very important, isn't it?
Also, Chopper's medical equipment is all fragile. If you don't pack it up now, it'll be too late!"
Oh, right... Orochimaru suddenly remembered, and he took Chopper back inside the ship.
Everyone collectively wiped the sweat from their foreheads and gave Nami a thumbs-up.
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