In a bustling town somewhere within the East Blue, groups of diligent marines busily carried out their duties, tirelessly tracking down and arresting the unfortunate pirates who had made the grievous mistake of stepping foot on this island.
Loguetown was the name of this singular town perched upon the modest island, famed far and wide as the "Town of Beginning and End."
It bore such a grand title because this was the place where the legendary Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, was both born into the world and publicly executed, marking an end to an era eleven years ago.
What drew countless pirates to this town was not solely the lingering influence of the Pirate King's legacy, but also the island's strategic location.
It was the final stepping stone to the Grand Line, the ultimate dream of every pirate alive.
Due to its critical position, Loguetown had earned the nickname "the last stop of East Blue." For those daring to seek fortune and freedom upon the Grand Line, crossing paths with Loguetown was inevitable. However, unless they were desperately low on supplies, most pirates were wise enough to avoid docking here, for the ever-vigilant marines made it a risky gamble few dared to take.
Even so, there were always pirates who had underestimated the arduous journey ahead, only to realize their folly when supplies ran dangerously low. Forced to dock at Loguetown, these desperate souls would find themselves relying solely on their luck and wits the very moment they set foot ashore, hoping to evade the marines long enough to flee back to sea.
Most of them failed miserably.
Just like any other day, another pirate crew fell victim to the marines' relentless pursuit and were apprehended almost immediately upon arrival, much to the amusement of the townsfolk.
The civilians of Loguetown had long since grown accustomed to the chaotic sight of pirates scrambling like headless chickens, only to be ruthlessly subdued by the marines. Once the ruckus was over, the cheering would begin, echoing through the streets as the pirates were marched off to prison in shackles.
Among the many stalwart marines stationed here, one particular figure stood out.
A young officer, handsome, gallant, and distinguished as a Squad Leader. Yet it was not his rugged good looks, admittedly a bonus, or even his formidable abilities that left the deepest impression. No, it was his infamous, death-defying habit of smoking two cigars at once that made him so memorable.
The man truly lived up to his name.
Smoker.
At present, Squad Leader Smoker stood with rigid posture, his sharp gaze surveying the captured pirates who were forced to sit humiliated in the center of the plaza, their hands and feet tightly bound. His expression was one of deep seriousness as he methodically compared each pirate to the wanted posters he held, determined to root out any with a price on their heads.
At that moment, a tall figure emerged from the gathering crowd and sauntered toward Smoker, whistling a merry tune to grab the marine's attention.
"Working hard as usual, Squad Leader! You did not even let them touch their ship before you caught them all!" the newcomer teased.
Smoker threw a glance at the approaching man.
"Jiraiya."
Jiraiya was an imposing figure, tall and broad-shouldered, with a mane of long white hair tied in a loose ponytail at the base of his neck. Two thick bangs framed his face, enhancing the striking red, fang-like markings painted beneath his sharp eyes, features that made him dangerously attractive to the ladies.
Smoker was quite familiar with this man.
"Since I am responsible for pirate control in this town," Smoker said, voice firm, "it is my duty to capture them all. Just because I allow them to step into my town does not mean I will let them walk out as they please."
"Wow, it is like the entire town is your big rat trap to trap the rats themselves! Ahahahaha!" Jiraiya let out a boisterous laugh, earning an unimpressed glare from the marine.
"Alright, alright, no more jokes!" Jiraiya chuckled, raising his hands in mock surrender. His eyes flickered toward the stack of wanted posters. "Got someone worth a bounty this time?"
Smoker nodded. "The captain of this crew has a bounty of 5 Million Beri. I have already sent him to prison myself."
"Five million Beri?!" Jiraiya let out an exaggerated gasp, clutching his chest as if wounded. "I didn't even make close to that with the book I released last week! Looks like I have to step up my game! Hahahaha!"
Smoker's left eye twitched slightly at the man's shameless bragging and at the mention of that book, which he deliberately chose to ignore.
Jiraiya caught the look on Smoker's face and deliberately asked, "You look like you are not satisfied. Is it because you have not captured enough pirates yet?"
Smoker shot him a small, sharp glare. "I am waiting for a certain crew to show up." He then fished out a particular wanted poster and handed it over. "The Black Crow Pirates. Newcomers. They have been stirring up trouble across East Blue for the last four months."
Jiraiya studied the wanted poster in his hand, looking at the malicious-looking man with small eyes with interest. He was the captain of the Black Crow Pirates, and his bounty was worth 12 Million Beri.
"I heard this man possesses a Devil Fruit ability, but it is unknown what kind of ability he has. For a powerful pirate like him, it is impossible for him to remain in the East Blue for long. If he has a big ambition, he will surely try to enter the Grand Line. Before that time comes, I need to tighten the security around the island first."
As Smoker delved into duty talk, Jiraiya quickly shoved the poster back into his hands, laughing. He clapped the marine firmly on the shoulder. "Well, if there is anyone who can catch him, it is you! You are the pride of Loguetown! Without you around, how could we poor, helpless civilians sleep soundly at night?"
The so-called poor, helpless civilian let out another dramatic sigh for effect. "It's tough being a marine too! Anyway, thanks again, Smoker! Oh, and when my new book comes out in a few months, you'll be the first to get a signed copy!"
"You really don't have to," Smoker muttered grimly, not looking the least bit thrilled.
Jiraiya knew the guy's internal struggle and was amused. "Ahahahah! If I didn't know any better, I would have thought that you dislike me. But of course not! I can feel that our friendship is genuine! Ah! Oh shoot! It is time for me to open my store! See you later, Smoker!"
With a jaunty wave, Jiraiya disappeared down the street toward his bookstore.
Standing nearby, Smoker's loyal assistant commented, "Smoker-san, Jiraiya-san is as lively as ever."
Another marine piped up, "Last week, that guy beat up an entire pirate crew solo when you were not even around!"
"And last month, he caught a robber within a minute!"
"If Jiraiya-san ever decided to enlist, he would make the perfect partner for Smoker-san!" lamented the assistant, shaking his head. "Such a shame he chose to be a writer instead."
"And his works…" someone mumbled awkwardly with reddened face.
Smoker, "…."
The young officer could only recall, with mixed feelings, the day he first met Jiraiya, about half a year ago.
Back then, the man had only just arrived in Loguetown when he was suddenly dragged into a fierce battle between the marines and some armed pirates.
Surprisingly, Jiraiya had fought alongside the marines, displaying such astounding strength and courage that he earned the admiration of civilians and marines alike, including Smoker himself.
Later, Smoker discovered that Jiraiya, three years his junior, had decided to settle in Loguetown, drawn by its prosperity. Finding nothing objectionable in the decision, Smoker gradually struck up a friendship with him.
A few days later, Jiraiya opened a small bookstore, selling a variety of books, many of them his own works. As a gesture of support, Smoker had generously bought a copy of every title on the first day.
Only to deeply regret it later that night when he cracked open one of Jiraiya's "masterpieces."
Safe to say, Smoker had never voluntarily touched those books again.
"But I love Jiraiya-san's other books!"
"Yeah! I heard he is releasing the second volume of Minato: The Gallant Ninja soon!"
"I prefer The Great Adventure of the Toad Sage!"
As the marines began passionately discussing Jiraiya's questionable bestsellers, Smoker shot them a death glare. "Still got time to gossip? Get moving!"
"Y-Yes, Squad Leader!" The marines scrambled like frightened mice, hurriedly returning to their tasks.
Smoker simply shook his head, suppressing a heavy sigh.
.
.
.
At the same time, after leaving the scene, Jiraiya resumed his journey, strolling leisurely until he eventually reached one of Loguetown's bustling main streets. The sun had barely climbed halfway up the sky, and it was still a couple of hours before noon. Yet the streets were already alive and brimming with noise, as peddlers shouted while setting up their stalls, shop owners opened their doors with bright, hopeful smiles, and townsfolk stepped out of their homes to begin another busy day.
Right in the heart of that energetic street stood Jiraiya's beloved bookstore, the well-known Lovely Bookstore, a charming little shop that had grown increasingly popular ever since its grand opening half a year ago. Most locals had come to know and love Jiraiya, not only as the owner of the store but also as one of the liveliest and friendliest faces in the entire neighborhood.
"Oh! Jiraiya, you are late today!" a cheerful peddler called out the moment he spotted him, waving his arm eagerly like he was greeting an old friend.
Jiraiya, always one to return warmth with warmth, grinned broadly at the man. Over time, he had built a reputation in the area as an approachable and spirited young man who easily won the affection of both the elderly and the youth.
"Heheh, I got lost on the road of life!" Jiraiya said with exaggerated flair, prompting hearty laughter all around.
"You must have stopped by the plaza earlier, huh?" the peddler said knowingly. "I heard Smoker-san caught another group of pirates this morning! That man never rests!"
"That's what I heard too!" Jiraiya replied with a laugh. "But hey, it's good for us. With him around, we can finally stop worrying about pirates swaggering through the streets like they own the place."
"Our Jiraiya's not bad either!" the peddler teased, giving him a playful thump on the back. "With your skills, you could have joined the Marines like Smoker did, young man! You'd make a fine officer!"
Indeed, while many knew Jiraiya as the charming owner of the Lovely Bookstore, those who knew him more personally understood that he was far from ordinary. Tales of his righteous heart and remarkable strength had quietly spread among the townsfolk. He was known to step in whenever someone was in danger, whether it meant lending a hand to the Marines during skirmishes with pirates or helping locals deal with thieves and street thugs.
Many residents often lamented what they saw as a "waste of talent," believing that someone as capable and noble as Jiraiya should have pursued glory and honor as a Marine officer rather than settling for the quiet life of a bookseller.
Whenever someone brought up the subject, Jiraiya would simply flash a gentle yet wistful smile and say, "I have too many dreams swirling around up here," tapping the side of his head, "and I can't just speak them all out loud. My dream is to spread those dreams through words… words that anyone can understand, words that bring people together and remind them that deep down, we're not so different."
While it was true that his most popular novels centered around romantic tales that could make even the toughest man blush like a flustered teenager, Jiraiya had also written several powerful stories about brave dreamers chasing their ambitions across land and sea.
Minato, the Gallant Ninja.
The Adventure of the Toad Sage.
Road to Glory, the Brave Samurai.
Scarlet Hurricane, Kushina.
The Valiant Chain Maiden.
Each of these titles held a place in the hearts of readers across the Four Blues, slowly carving out a corner of the literary world that belonged entirely to Jiraiya. His fame was no longer confined to Loguetown; rumors suggested that even sailors journeying across the Grand Line had begun to trade and treasure his works.
In truth, even if Jiraiya had never thrown a single punch or dodged a pirate's blade, his natural talent and tireless effort alone would have guaranteed him a life filled with admiration, wealth, and peace.
Add to that his humble, easygoing nature, and honestly, the man was practically a walking symbol of good fortune.
To put it plainly, Jiraiya was a blessed and gifted man, and everyone who met him seemed to walk away a little lighter in spirit.
After wrapping up his casual conversations with the townsfolk, Jiraiya finally made his way toward his store, a handsome two-story building made of sturdy red brick. Above its welcoming doorway hung a polished wooden signboard engraved with bold letters that proudly read: Lovely Bookstore.
Waiting just outside were three teenagers, standing patiently with clear expressions that said, "Finally!"
One of them who spotted him first, remarked "Boss! You're late!"
"Sorry, sorry! I got lost on the road of life!" Jiraiya said cheerfully, repeating his favorite excuse.
"For two whole hours?" the teenager asked, unimpressed.
"Well, the road was longer than usual today," Jiraiya replied, scratching the back of his head in mock embarrassment.
"Boss, that's such a boring excuse. You really need new material!"
"Don't encourage him!" another teen groaned.
Laughing, Jiraiya jingled the keys in his hand. "Alright, alright, let's head inside before people start thinking we went out of business overnight!"
As the owner, Jiraiya naturally held the keys to both the bookstore and the apartment above it. Technically, he was supposed to open the store before his assistants arrived since he lived upstairs, but his whimsical spirit rarely allowed for such discipline. Jiraiya had a habit of wandering through town early in the morning, chatting with the locals, gathering stories and gossip, and occasionally helping Smoker deal with unruly pirates.
It was not unusual for his assistants to wait an hour or two before their carefree boss finally strolled back, whistling like the world had no troubles.
The three assistants were all local teenagers from Loguetown, close in age and earnest in spirit.
When Jiraiya first opened his store, he needed reliable helpers, and by chance, these three were searching for work. After seeing their honesty and drive, he hired them without hesitation.
Zyn was the eldest, with tanned skin and messy blond hair that reached his shoulders. He was the most energetic among them and had recently left the orphanage to begin his independent life.
Yumi was his age, a quiet girl with long dark blue hair tied in a loose braid. Though not very talkative, she was extremely detail-oriented in her work. Like Zyn, Yumi had grown up in the orphanage, but she had a younger sister named Tashigi, who often visited the bookstore. Tashigi, despite being adorably clumsy, was hardworking and determined, always eager to lend a hand wherever she could.
Then there was Jumo, a redhead who came from a loving but humble family of six. His household was neither rich nor poor, just an ordinary family making ends meet. As the second-born, Jumo had watched his father and older brother labor tirelessly to provide for everyone, and he wanted to help ease their burden. He began searching for part-time work and soon crossed paths with Jiraiya, who was looking for assistants.
Over time, Jiraiya had grown deeply fond of the trio, treating them not as mere employees but as younger siblings he had taken under his wing.
Unlocking the door, Jiraiya ushered them in. Without needing any instructions, the three teenagers scattered to their tasks with the natural rhythm of well-trained workers, moving confidently through the store like they belonged there.
"Is Tashigi-chan coming by today?" Jiraiya asked Yumi.
"She stayed up half the night reading Scarlet Hurricane: Kushina," Yumi replied with an exasperated yet affectionate smile. "When I left home this morning, she was still fast asleep, snoring like a little bear."
"Aahahahaha! That Kushina-chan is truly a heroine adored by little girls everywhere!" Jiraiya laughed heartily, his amusement echoing through the room.
"Hey Boss," Jumo called out from behind the cash register. "My brother wants to know when you're finally going to release the second part of that ninja story."
"Err… I still haven't quite hammered out the ending yet," Jiraiya said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "But probably in about two months. In the meantime, you three better work extra hard promoting my books! And don't worry, big bonuses await those who prove diligent!"
Jiraiya had always treated his assistants with kindness and generosity, so naturally, they were eager to repay him with unwavering loyalty.
"Thank you, Boss! We'll work extra hard for you!" Zyn said dramatically, bowing deeply. Jumo followed in perfect synchronization, making the gesture look like a well-rehearsed performance. Yumi, on the other hand, merely shook her head with a faint, knowing smile, her eyes glimmering with amusement at their antics.
"That's the spirit!" Jiraiya said enthusiastically, clapping his hands together.
After giving them a few more lighthearted instructions, Jiraiya left the trio to manage the store while he headed upstairs to his private quarters on the second floor, a place considered sacred and forbidden to anyone but him.
The second floor wasn't just his home. It was his personal haven, the sanctuary where all his creative ideas took form.
Closing the door behind him, Jiraiya, or rather, the "Jiraiya" the world believed him to be, released a small puff of white smoke.
In moments, the illusion faded, and the tall, charming young man was replaced by a youthful girl who appeared even younger than the assistants downstairs.
That girl was none other than Naru, who had been away from Dawn Island for quite some time now.
To summarize what she had been up to for the past year, well, she had been working tirelessly to earn money.
Naru had realized early on that if she wanted to build a formidable intelligence network, she would need an enormous amount of funding—vast sums of money that could sustain her ambitions without drawing attention. After her brief visit to Shimotsuki Village, she had continued traveling from place to place, hopping from town to town and casino to casino. With her outrageous luck and uncanny knack for attracting fortune, it hadn't taken long for her to amass a respectable amount of wealth.
Then, on one particularly quiet day, Naru found herself reminiscing about Ero-Sennin.
That perverted old sage might have been a shameless freeloader who constantly found creative ways to scam her out of her savings, but beneath all the ridiculous antics and miserly habits, he had been a genuinely brilliant and wealthy man. His novels had been bestsellers, read across nations, and his high-ranking missions had brought him rewards generous enough to live comfortably for several lifetimes, if he had ever cared to.
Feeling inspired and wishing, in her own strange way, to honor her absurd yet beloved mentor, Naru decided to follow in his footsteps—quite literally. She created a new persona, a younger and more spirited version of Jiraiya, and under this identity, she began to write and publish novels of her own. Some were enhanced adaptations of the Icha Icha series, while others were entirely original works born from her imagination.
It had been about half a year ago when she decided to settle in Loguetown, drawn by its perfect location as a hub between seas. From the moment she arrived, her business had flourished spectacularly, blooming like a fireworks display lighting up the night sky.
They were brilliant, vibrant, and impossible to overlook.
Of course, Naru could not always be physically present to manage everything herself. To solve that problem, she hired three assistants to handle daily operations. Even when she was away, one of her shadow clones, disguised as the younger Jiraiya, remained in charge of the store, ensuring everything ran smoothly.
Originally, Naru had planned to rely solely on her clones for this work, but when those three earnest teenagers approached her seeking employment, especially Yumi, who brought along her little sister because she couldn't leave her alone in their unsafe old neighborhood, Naru had found herself unable to refuse them.
She might have been tough, but she was not without compassion.
Besides, Yumi and her little sister bore an uncanny resemblance to Kuina. Little Tashigi, in particular, was around the same age Kuina had been. Maybe it was the pang of familiarity tugging at her heart, or maybe fate itself had a hand in it, but Naru hadn't hesitated to welcome them aboard. Six months ago, the sisters had looked frail and undernourished, their faces shadowed with worry and fatigue. Now, thanks to the generous pay and bonuses Naru provided, they looked vibrant and full of life once more. Their cheeks had color, and their eyes gleamed with youthful energy.
Seeing them thrive brought Naru a deep warmth that words alone could never capture.
With her bookstore business secure and her young assistants well cared for, Naru had no lingering concerns. And now that she had remained in Loguetown for so long, she could feel it—it was almost time for her to move on and set her sights on the next stage of her journey.
Sprawled lazily across the sofa nearby was a magnificent creature about the size of a full-grown tiger. It was a fox, its fur a rich, fiery shade of orange that shimmered like sunlight on flame. Kurama, the Kyūbi no Yōko himself, gave a tremendous yawn, his sharp golden eyes following Naru as she made her way to her desk.
The surface of her desk was buried beneath a sea of papers, an organized chaos of notes, manuscripts, and maps. At its center lay an old, timeworn chart spread wide, its faded lines and inked symbols whispering secrets of faraway lands. Naru leaned forward, her eyes glinting with purpose as she studied the markings, as though she could will them into revealing the path to her next great adventure.
"Are we finally leaving?" Kurama asked, his voice a low rumble tinged with drowsy amusement.
Naru nodded without lifting her gaze. "Next year," she replied simply. "Anyway, which route do you think we should take, Kurama?"
"Didn't you say before that this place called 'Calm Belt' is a nest for the Seakings?"
"You just want to go there for your personal entertainment."
Kurama did not bother to deny it. "You don't even have a proper ship to go through the Reverse Mountain. Do you really think your tiny boat can survive something like that?"
"Fair point."
Though Naru had gained a fair bit of sailing experience over the past several months navigating the waters of East Blue, the reality remained as cold as the ocean breeze. She still did not own a real ship. Her only vessel was a humble fishing boat she had bought long ago in Foosha Village. Such a pitiful craft would be shredded to splinters if it ever faced the monstrous currents and violent storms that guarded the Grand Line.
Still, ship or not, Naru was far from helpless. With her control over wind chakra and the ever-reliable Kurama by her side, she could literally travel through the sky if the situation called for it. Besides, what would she even need a massive ship for when it was only her and one overly smug fox? Managing a large vessel alone was pure foolishness. Even if she summoned an army of clones, what good would it do when none of them knew the first thing about sailing?
Panicking and flailing around like a bunch of headless chickens in the middle of a storm?
Now that would be a sight worth seeing.
Especially when she had the power to calmly slice through hurricanes without breaking a sweat.
Naru sighed and glanced toward the laziest creature alive.
Kurama, in his current form, was nothing like the terrifying force of destruction he had once been. With only a single, fluffy tail and a body roughly the size of a hefty tiger, he looked less like a fearsome beast and more like a large, majestic house pet. His sleek fur gleamed under the sunlight, his long ears flicked from time to time, and if not for the permanent smugness in his eyes, one might have thought he was adorable. Naru had insisted that he maintain this smaller form whenever he appeared outside the seal. She could not exactly have him parading around in his full nine-tailed glory, terrifying villagers into mass hysteria every time someone caught sight of him.
Out in the wilderness, it was fine. But in towns or crowded places? Absolutely not. One-tailed Kurama was the only acceptable version.
Honestly, he looked much cuter this way.
Over time, Kurama had even begun making rare appearances around her younger brothers, though he kept his regal silence and never wasted words on them. Naru had proudly introduced him to her siblings as her partner and protector.
The fact that Kurama had allowed her to reveal not only his existence but also his true name to those little brats spoke volumes. It was his quiet, unspoken way of acknowledging them as part of her world.
Naturally, Naru had been thrilled beyond words.
The only downside was her youngest brother's astonishing gift for reckless idiocy.
Because Naru had a cool, powerful animal companion who could carry her anywhere she pleased, Luffy (being the chaos magnet he was), decided that he needed one too. Determined to prove himself, he marched into the forest all alone, picked a fight with a tiger nearly ten times his size, and almost got himself eaten alive.
Thank the heavens Naru had arrived just in time to save him from becoming dinner. Sure, Luffy was tougher than most brats his age, but he was still only six years old. There was no way he could handle a full-grown mountain tiger, a beast that had spent decades sharpening its instincts and claws.
To make matters worse, that particular tiger was not some ordinary predator. It was Garp's old sparring partner from his younger years. So much for "just a forest cat."
After she rescued the boy and tore into him with one of her legendary scoldings, Naru made Luffy promise that he would never pull a stunt like that again until he could prove that he was strong enough to defeat a creature equal to that tiger.
Back in the present, Naru rolled up her old map and tucked it carefully into her pouch. She settled down soon after, spending the rest of the afternoon scribbling furiously across dozens of sheets of paper. Since she was using her "young Jiraiya" identity to sell her works, she had a reputation to protect—the so-called "genius author" could not afford to slack off.
Even if her clones could easily handle the workload and continue producing new stories, Naru believed the original still had to do her part. After all, writing was not just her job.
It was her art, her fun, and one of the few peaceful things she could control.
The hours slipped by, the sunlight fading into twilight. Kurama had long since returned to the seal, leaving Naru alone in her quiet, paper-strewn sanctuary. When she finally glanced at the clock, it was edging close to five o'clock in the evening.
Stretching her arms high above her head until her joints emitted a series of satisfying pops, she let out a contented sigh. A lazy smile tugged at her lips as she loosened up, feeling the tension leave her muscles. Then, with a fluid motion honed by countless repetitions, she transformed her appearance into the youthful image of Jiraiya — tousled silver hair, rugged good looks, and a mischievous glint in her now-mischievous eyes. Without missing a beat, she began making her way downstairs, footsteps light and confident.
As expected, a little girl with dark bluish hair sat quietly beside Yumi, completely absorbed in the book she was reading. Her small figure leaned forward in deep concentration, turning the pages with careful hands as though each one contained a priceless secret.
The customers and assistants inside the bookstore stirred when they heard the familiar footsteps coming down from upstairs.
"Boss Jiraiya!" a bright, lively voice rang out, cutting through the soft murmur of the shop. Naru, now disguised as Jiraiya, turned her head toward the sound and saw that it was none other than Tashigi, her favorite little bookworm.
"Oho! Tashigi-chan! Fancy seeing you here again," Naru said with a wide, grandfatherly grin, her tone perfectly mimicking Jiraiya's playful charm.
"Boss Jiraiya! I finished the book!" Tashigi announced proudly, holding it up high as if it were a trophy she had earned. The title shimmered under the warm lamplight: Scarlet Hurricane, Kushina, one of Jiraiya's most celebrated works. Her dark blue eyes sparkled with admiration as she added with heartfelt excitement, "When I grow up, I want to be just like Kushina-chan! A strong female warrior who fights against injustice everywhere!"
Naru's laughter was soft and warm, a genuine sound that filled the cozy little shop. She reached out and affectionately ruffled the girl's hair, her voice carrying both fondness and gentle encouragement. "If you have that kind of fire in your heart, Tashigi-chan, then I believe you can make that dream come true someday. We will all be counting on you to protect Loguetown from the bad guys!"
"Just like Smoker-san?" Tashigi asked eagerly, her eyes gleaming with pure admiration.
Naru chuckled, the sound rich and amused. "Well, yes, just like Smoker-san, but hopefully with a little less of his serious attitude, hm?"
"Hehehe!" Tashigi giggled, covering her mouth shyly as her cheeks flushed.
The atmosphere within the bookstore grew even warmer, wrapped in that comforting magic only stories, dreams, and laughter could create. The assistants behind the counter exchanged knowing smiles, their expressions soft with fondness as they watched the lively exchange between their eccentric boss and the bright little girl.
Whenever Tashigi visited, Naru could not help but think of two other children—Zoro and Kuina, her old friends from Shimotsuki Village.
Dawn Island was quite a distance from Loguetown, and even at the speed of a steady ship, it would take at least two months to reach her home. Before that, she would have to pass the island where Shimotsuki Village stood. Because of the promise she had made to Zoro and Kuina to visit them whenever she could, Naru always kept her word. She made it a tradition to stop by the village each time she returned from her journeys, treating it as her final stop before going home.
Looking at her current schedule, she realized it was about time to return. Besides, there was that pirate captain who had been influencing her brothers while she was away. For that reason, she decided she would not visit those two children this time.
Later that night, wrapped in the soft veil of darkness and guided by the whispering winds, Naru silently departed from Loguetown. The faint glow of the town's lamps shimmered behind her like a trail of distant stars, yet she did not turn back. She allowed the wind to lead her forward, her silhouette blending with the shadows as she disappeared into the horizon.
Little did she know that her decision not to visit Shimotsuki Village this time would also mean losing the chance to ever see that determined young girl again.