"Split into two teams and attack! Leave no one alive who dares interfere with the great Buggy!"
"Understood, Captain Buggy!!!"
The Buggy Pirates split into two groups, each numbering over ten, and charged at Luffy and Zoro.
Against Luffy, the assault was led by a pirate riding atop a lion, while against Zoro, a pirate brandishing swords in both hands and mounted on a unicycle took the lead.
"Roronoa! Give us a dazzling acrobatic show before you die...!"
clang!
Charging forward, the unicyclist spoke those words—but he fell instantly, cut down by all three of Zoro's blades in a single strike.
"Chief Cabaji!"
"Last time you slaughtered over fifty comrades, yet this time it's not even twenty."
"Are you kidding me?"
"D-Do it, kill him!!!"
No sooner had Zoro finished speaking than the other pirates launched themselves at him—but each was cut down by a single blade instead of three.
Meanwhile, Zoro glanced over to Luffy, who was surrounded by the pirates, from a distance.
thud!
The moment his fist connected, the pirate's torso crumpled as if it were soft like tofu.
If it struck the arm, the arm was torn off; if it struck the torso, it left a gaping hole.
"They're insanely strong."
"I thought I might have to step in if Luffy was losing, but I guess that's unnecessary!"
Having made up her mind, Nami returned to the building from the rooftop just as Luffy knocked down most of the oncoming pirates.
Only a whip-wielding man and his huge lion remained. The man dismounted and opened his mouth.
"Go, Richie! Tear him apart!"
Roar!
whack!
At his command, the lion swiped a massive paw at Luffy's face.
"What's that supposed to do?"
Grrraaah!
Luffy's head didn't budge at all, and there wasn't a scratch on his face.
However, as the lion swiped, one of its claws snapped off, and blood poured from the wound.
"That's all you've got?"
screech!
"R-Richie! What are you thinking, running away...?!"
"He probably doesn't want to die with you."
thud!
No sooner had the pirate shouted at the fleeing lion than Luffy swung his fist and smashed the pirate's head into the ground.
Luffy looked down at the pirate whose head was buried in the earth, then turned his gaze toward Zoro.
"All done already, Zoro?"
"Yeah, Luffy."
Zoro stood there, his swords coated in Buggy's severed limbs.
"If I'd known Buggy was this weak, I would've sliced him up during our last fight."
"He is weak...but you can't let your guard down."
"...What?"
clang!
Zoro spun around and swung his blade, deflecting a flying dagger.
"You're in pieces—how can you...?!"
"Hahahaha! How do you like Buggy's little surprise show?!"
The dagger was held by a wrist severed from Buggy's body.
The dagger-wielding wrist floated and reattached itself to the other severed parts, restoring Buggy's body.
"That's what happens when you eat a Devil Fruit, Zoro—he gains an ability that lets him keep going even if he's chopped into pieces."
"You're quick to catch on, Straw Hat."
"As you said, I ate the [Chop-Chop Fruit]. No matter how many times you cut me, I won't die!"
"Luffy, do you think pummeling me with the flat of your blade will work?"
"I'm not completely sure, but it should do the trick."
"Still, I'll handle him. Stay here."
"If you want the pick of the prey, I laid claim to him first, Captain."
"Zoro, let me handle this one."
As Zoro responded to Luffy's determined request, Luffy strode toward Buggy—and Buggy opened his mouth.
"I don't like guys who wear straw hats like you—it just reminds me of that damn Red-Haired."
"You mean Shanks?"
"How do you know him?!"
"Just like you're called the Clown, Shanks is known as the Red-Haired."
"It's only natural you'd think of Shanks when you say 'Red-Haired' outright, right?"
"K-khem...Yeah, I guess that is true."
"Oh, and of course, I do know Shanks."
"Who the hell are you mocking?!"
"I ask you if you don't know him, and you go and confirm that you do—what the hell?"
"If you know him, then…did you get that hat from Shanks?"
"How'd you guess that, Straw Hat? It's not like there's only one straw hat in the world."
"At some point, that precious hat he always treasured stopped appearing on wanted posters."
"I couldn't believe it, but it was on you…If he gave it to you, you must've been close."
"Not only did you ruin the great Buggy's spectacular show, but you're also pals with that idiot—now I've got even more reasons to kill you!"
"They say Shanks was close with you. Is that true?"
"Shanks is my enemy! I didn't plan to eat the [Chop-Chop Fruit]—I only did it because of him!"
As Buggy spoke, he recalled events from the past.
On that dark, moonlit night, a ship drifted on the sea. Buggy stood at the edge of the deck, holding a fruit and a map in his hands.
*****
"Success! I managed to steal a Devil Fruit worth over 100 million Berries and a treasure map!"
"Why eat a Devil Fruit that stops you from swimming? I'll sell it for 100 million Berries!"
"With the money from selling the fruit and the treasure the map leads to, I'll form my own pirate crew and rack up even more loot...!"
"Buggy? What are you doing out there?"
At that moment, the youthful Shanks appeared behind him, wearing a straw hat.
At the sound of Shanks's voice, Buggy stuffed the map into his coat and popped the fruit into his mouth as he turned to face him.
"What tasty treat do you have your mouth so full of?"
Mmmph...mmph...!
gulp!
In that instant, Buggy swallowed the fruit whole.
"Ugh...Aaah! Because of you, Shanks...!"
"Why are you suddenly acting like this? And the thing that was in your pocket just fell into the sea!"
"Oh no! My map!!!"
Buggy saw the treasure map he'd just stashed floating in the direction Shanks pointed.
Splash!
Buggy threw himself into the sea, but he couldn't move his limbs properly underwater.
Buggy flailed in the water, and Shanks, seeing this, dove in after him.
"I can't move…h-help me!"
"Hold on, Buggy! I'll save you now!"
*****
"That's how I lost the chance to gain 100 million Berries and the map's treasure—because of Shanks!"
"You snuck away with a fruit and a map—just what are you so proud of?"
"Aren't you grateful that Shanks saved you?"
"If that idiot hadn't suddenly jumped out from behind at that moment, I wouldn't have been saved!"
"You think he's cool, don't you? You're deluding yourself!"
"I know better than anyone! Shanks is the biggest wimp among anyone I know!"
Buggy shouted, eyes wide open.
His eyes were bloodshot with excitement, and his breathing was rough.
"Then what about you?"
"...What?"
"A clown with a funny-looking nose? A pirate running around in some backwater of the East Blue? Which is it?"
"Just because your mouth's always open doesn't give you the right to say anything…!"
"Ah…no, there's actually a more fitting title."
With that, Luffy walked forward and suddenly stood right in front of Buggy. With a resolute expression, he faced Buggy and spoke.
"Former trainee of the Roger Pirates—that has to be your greatest glory, doesn't it?"
"D-did that guy go and tell you that?!"
"They say Shanks was once a trainee of the Roger Pirates, but now he's a legendary pirate of the Grand Line."
"Even here in this backwater East Blue, people's ears perk up when they hear his name—so why are you still stuck here in the East Blue?"
"If you were in the same crew, does it make sense that there's such a gap?"
"You… I'll kill you right here!!!"
[Chop-Chop Festival]!
Buggy, seeing Luffy mocking him, disassembled his body at every joint. At each joint, he inserted a dagger, and those limbs—along with his two dagger-wielding hands—spun around his severed head in midair.
That hovering mass of limbs charged at Luffy, brandishing daggers.
"No matter how tough he is, he's still human. Strike the vital points and he'll die!"
"Straw Hat, die looking up at me with your throat cut...!"
Luffy stretched his arm and grabbed Buggy's massive nose.
clang clang clang!
The daggers then rushed at Luffy, but apparently unconcerned about being sliced, he lightly swung his other hand and sent the daggers flying.
"You were Shanks's fellow trainee—this is all you've got?"
"How...how is it not even leaving a scratch?!"
"It's because you're weak, and on top of that, I'm tougher than steel."
[Chop-Chop Spiral]!
Buggy spun the dagger-equipped limbs and thrust them at Luffy's body.
whrrr...!
But the fiercely swirling blades couldn't tear Luffy's flesh.
"With an ability like this, you should be out in the Grand Line—why are you stuck in the East Blue like me?"
"Who thinks someone as weak as you stays here?"
"I was just about to head out...!"
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Wham!
"Right here!"
guh!
Luffy drove Buggy's head into the ground.
At the same time, the floating torsos reattached to Buggy's head, restoring his body.
"I win, Buggy, so give it up."
"If it weren't for Shanks, I would've been a top pirate in the Grand Line."
"You still talking that crap...?"
"After eating that Devil Fruit and losing the treasure map, I made up my mind!"
"If I couldn't get the treasure beneath the waves, I'd take all the treasures above it!"
"And anyone who messes with the treasure I've gathered…!"
Having said that, Buggy turned his head, detached a dagger-wielding hand, and flung it.
"I won't let anyone off the hook!!!"
"Nami!"
The dagger Buggy threw flew toward Nami, who had emerged from the building carrying the bag of treasure.
"Die, orange-haired brat!"
Eeek!
thud!
"You okay?"
"Luffy!"
Though the dagger-bearing hand headed for Nami, Luffy appeared in an instant and kicked it away.
The hand flew back toward Buggy, and after retrieving it, Buggy pulled something from his pocket.
Bang!
As soon as it hit the ground, it unleashed smoke bombs in all directions.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
At the same time, Buggy wildly fired his pistol toward the sky. Hearing the gunshots, Luffy scooped Nami into his arms and said,
"Duck down!"
"Okay, got it!"
"Smoke bombs and gunfire...just like old times."
"Buggy, I swear I'll kill you with my own hands!"
"You okay, Nami? Are you hurt anywhere?"
"I'm fine...thanks, Luffy."
"Zoro, you okay?"
"No problem. But Buggy preparing smoke bombs and stuff…he really is a clown."
"It's not over yet! It won't be over until we catch him!"
With that, Luffy sprinted off, with Zoro and Nami following close behind.
"Luffy! Where do you think he ran off to that you can run like this?!"
"If he planned to take a hostage, he would've grabbed the village chief nearby. Since he didn't, he must be trying to escape the island outright!"
"Then he'd head for the port!"
"You two are way too fast!"
"Nami, you can catch up later!"
"If you wanna share in Buggy's bounty, you've gotta at least run like this!"
"I'll still give you a share, so just keep up!"
Of the three running, Zoro, who ran beside Luffy, suddenly turned and veered down a side path to the left. Watching this, Luffy shouted,
"Hey, where are you going?!"
"Isn't this the way to the port?"
"No!"
"Ah! I should've gone right!"
"That's not it either!"
"Now that I think about it, the port is back the way we came…"
"No! Straight ahead!"
"Luffy, he managed to say everything except the way to the port."
"…Really?"
After that brief commotion, they arrived at the port.
As they scanned the port area, Zoro spotted a small boat floating out in the middle of the sea and shouted,
"It's Buggy, Luffy! He's on that tiny boat!"
"That's the boat I came here on! It's been stolen!"
"Riding around in a boat that small and yet asking me to join you?"
"I was alone, so I used something small!"
"Kahahaha! Looking good, Straw Hat!"
As Luffy and Zoro shouted, Buggy, rowing on the boat, called out,
"Just you wait! One day this great Buggy will have the perfect revenge on you!"
"You're sure you can make it away, huh?"
At Buggy's words, Luffy formed a golden sphere in his right hand and continued speaking.
"What's that confidence of yours based on?"
"What is that...is that orb also an ability obtained by eating a Devil Fruit?"
"Right, Zoro."
"It's okay, Luffy, you don't have to do that."
"What do you mean, Nami?"
"...There's a low bank of clouds in the southern sky."
Whoooosh!
No sooner had Nami spoken than a cold wind blew toward them. She wrapped her arms around herself and continued,
"When a sudden cold breeze accompanies a bank of low clouds like that, a small storm can form."
rumble!
No sooner had she finished speaking than the boat Buggy was on began to rock.
"The b-boat's...!"
"I'm warning you—a small boat like that can capsize under those conditions."
Aaaahhh!!!
As soon as Nami finished her warning, Buggy's boat was pounded by fierce wind and rain.
Simultaneously, Buggy disappeared beneath the waves along with his boat. Seeing this, Zoro said,
"You predicted a storm from just one bank of clouds and a cold breeze…impressive."
"It's something I was born with, this kind of..."
"So, Luffy, what do you say? If we pay her properly, she can be our crew's temporary navigator for a crew of just two, yeah?"
"You're really amazing, Nami… I mean it."
As Luffy thought this, he clasped Nami's hands in his. Nami, holding his hands, blushed as she looked at him.
Looking up at Luffy like that, Nami spoke,
"Wh-why are you like this, Luffy?"
"I need you, so you'll have to take responsibility."
With that thought, Luffy slowly walked toward Nami, whose face was still flushed.
The space between them closed to less than a meter, and seeing Luffy like that, Nami said,
"Oh, no, Luffy…thanks for saving me, but this is so sudden…!"
As Nami said that, she squeezed her eyes shut.
For a moment, there was only silence and the darkness that filled her vision.
After that fleeting moment, Nami slowly opened her eyes.
squeeze!
"Aaargh! What are you doing?!"
"You messed up, so you have to make it right!"
Luffy pinched Nami's cheek and continued speaking.
"What did I do wrong?!"
"Why did you stop me from catching Buggy?!"
"If we kill him and hand over the body to the Navy, we'll get 70% of the bounty!"
"So why'd you interfere with catching Buggy?!"
"Oh, that's because… the chance to use my navigator skills made me want to show off…"
"You wanted to show off? You said you love money, and you just blew 15 million Berries?!"
Ouch! That hurts!!!
Seeing Luffy pinch Nami's cheek like that, Zoro sat on the edge of the dock and said,
"Captain, you and me and that girl—are we forming a pirate crew?"
"That's right, Zoro! Nami, who just blew 15 million Berries to show off what she knows, is officially a crewmate!"
"The Straw Hat Pirates are formed!"
"Wh-who said I'm a pirate?!"
"Work for one-third of Buggy's bounty—5 million Berries! If you don't, I won't ever let you rest!"
Nooooooooo!!!
And thus, the Straw Hat Pirates were born.