Nami, Genzo, and Nojiko were all left stunned. Why had Mina left so suddenly, without a word, just as she said she would? Genzo tried to chase after her, shouting her name, but his legs were far too slow. Mina's figure vanished in the blink of an eye, her golden hair and blue scarf fluttering like a streak of light as she leapt across the fields toward Arlong Park.
"Wait—Mina! Come back!" Genzo yelled, but the wind swallowed his voice.
In seconds, the girl was gone, leaving only the echo of her footsteps and a trail of swirling dust behind.
The three adults stood frozen for a moment, before hurrying back toward the village, their hearts pounding. By the time they reached the first houses, Genzo was panting heavily, sweat dripping down his temple.
"Why does she run so fast?" he gasped. "Even an adult like me can't keep up with her!"
Nojiko shook her head in disbelief. "She's… not normal. But what now? Even if she's strong, she's still just a little girl. Facing the Arlong Pirates alone is suicide."
Nami's brows furrowed deeply. Her chest ached with guilt and fear. Mina had gone to fight for her sake—because of her pain, her anger, her suffering under Arlong's rule.
She's doing this because she saw me cry, Nami thought bitterly. That idiot…
Before they could discuss further, the villagers began gathering around, voices full of concern.
"Genzo! What happened? We heard gunshots earlier—did the Marines attack?"
"Are you hurt?"
"I saw Marines leaving in a panic! What's going on?"
Genzo took a deep breath, his face grave. "It's a long story… but that Marine colonel—he was working with Arlong all along. He came here to steal from Nami. That little girl—Mina—killed him."
Gasps echoed through the crowd. The villagers looked at each other in shock, then anger.
"What?! The Marines were working with the fish-men?!"
"That bastard! He's no better than Arlong himself!"
"Good riddance! Someone finally did what we couldn't!"
But as the initial fury faded, fear crept in.
"...She killed a Marine," one villager whispered. "Won't Marine Headquarters come after us now?"
The crowd fell silent. The reality of what Mina had done began to sink in. For years, they had endured Arlong's tyranny in silence. But killing a Marine—no matter how corrupt—was a different kind of crime. The government would not care who was right or wrong. They would only see a Marine's death.
The villagers' eyes clouded with dread.
Nami clenched her fists. This is my fault.
Without another word, she picked up a thick wooden stick from the ground and turned toward Arlong Park.
Nojiko noticed first. "Nami—where are you going?"
Nami didn't stop walking. Her voice was calm, but her eyes burned. "To Arlong Park. Mina went there because of me. I can't let her fight alone."
Nojiko's eyes widened. "Are you insane? You can't—!"
But Nami cut her off. "I've run away too many times already." She turned back, a determined smile tugging at her lips. "If that kid's willing to risk her life for me, then I'll do the same. I won't let anyone else die because of me."
For a moment, no one spoke. Then one of the older villagers clenched his jaw. "If that little girl can be that brave, what excuse do we have?"
"Yeah!" another shouted. "This is our home! We've been living like slaves for eight years—what's the point of surviving if we never fight back?"
"Arlong and his crew took everything from us—our freedom, our pride, even Nami's childhood! It's time to end this!"
The air trembled with anger and courage.
Genzo slammed his hand against his holster. "That's right! Everyone, grab your weapons! Sticks, shovels, anything you can find! We fight back tonight!"
A roar erupted from the crowd. The villagers scattered to their homes, emerging moments later with whatever they could carry—pitchforks, hoes, torches, and broken bottles. Even old men who could barely walk gripped sticks in trembling hands, their eyes shining with fire.
As Nami watched them, tears blurred her vision. For years, she had lived believing no one would ever stand up to Arlong. Yet now, because of one strange, fearless little girl, her entire village had found the courage to rise.
"Let's go!" she shouted, raising her stick high. "For Cocoyasi Village!"
A deafening cheer followed.
Just then, several figures appeared at the edge of the road. Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, Usopp, Johnny, and Yosaku had arrived. Dust swirled around them as they approached, their familiar silhouettes bringing a strange comfort to the tense crowd.
Luffy grinned brightly, waving. "Nami!"
But Nami's expression turned hard. "Why are you still here?"
Her voice cut like a blade. The memory of betrayal still weighed heavy in her heart—Arlong's manipulation, her forced servitude, the years she'd spent lying to herself and others. She didn't want anyone's pity. Not even theirs.
Luffy tilted his head, unfazed. "Because you're our friend."
For a second, Nami's eyes widened—but she quickly turned away, gripping her stick tighter. "I don't need friends right now. I need to save my home."
Sanji stepped forward, his cigarette glowing faintly in the dark. "Miss Nami…" he murmured, his voice unusually serious. "We know. And we'll help." His eyes burned with anger. "Those fish-men have had it coming for a long time."
Zoro cracked his neck, resting a hand on his katana. "Heard enough to know what's going on. Let's go slice up some fish."
Usopp, though shaking a little, raised his slingshot. "Y-yeah! They won't get away with this!"
Johnny and Yosaku nodded firmly, standing beside him.
Nojiko, who had stayed behind, took a deep breath and began explaining everything—the corruption of Colonel Nezumi, Mina's strange powers, her reckless decision to confront Arlong.
The Straw Hats listened in silence. When she finished, Sanji's expression darkened.
"I didn't think anyone could be lower than those Marines… but Arlong proved me wrong. To steal from Nami and kill her hope—unforgivable."
Luffy clenched his fist so hard it cracked. "I'll crush them all. Nobody hurts my crew."
Nojiko blinked in surprise. Crew?
He said it with such absolute certainty, as if Nami had never left.
Zoro stepped forward, eyes sharp. "If that little girl's really gone to Arlong Park, we don't have much time. Let's move."
Nami turned to them, her lips trembling. Part of her wanted to tell them to leave—to protect them from her curse, from Arlong's wrath. But another part of her, the part that still remembered the laughter on the Going Merry, the taste of tangerine juice under the sun, couldn't bring herself to reject them anymore.
"…Do what you want," she said finally, her voice soft. "But don't die for me."
Luffy smiled, stretching his arm behind his head. "Too late for that. I already decided—I'm gonna beat that fish-man and free your village."
For a heartbeat, the entire village was silent. Then a single tear slid down Nami's cheek.
"Idiot…" she whispered, almost smiling.
The villagers, now armed with courage and crude weapons, began to march down the path toward Arlong Park. Torches flickered in the night, lighting up their faces—faces that, for the first time in years, showed defiance instead of fear.
In the distance, lightning flashed across the horizon. Dark clouds gathered above the sea.
And somewhere beyond the waves, inside the towering walls of Arlong Park, Mina stood alone—her small figure framed against the monstrous gate, her hand gripping the hilt of a blade she'd borrowed from Genzo's old collection.
"Alright…" she murmured to herself, eyes fierce with resolve. "For Sister Nami. For the people of this village."
The sound of thunder rumbled overhead.
Her lips curved into a fearless smile. "Let's see if fish-men bleed the same as humans."