The morning breeze carried the scent of the sea as Kaito stood on the deck of the Queen's Grace for the first time.
It wasn't a grand ship like the ones in pirate legends. It was modest, just large enough to house a small crew, but its white sails glistened under the sun and its frame was sleek, fast, and built for freedom.
It was his ship.
It was theirs.
Kuina stepped aboard, her hand trailing along the smooth wooden railing. "You're sure this isn't stolen?"
"It's a gift from the heavens," Kaito said, a half-truth. The system had quietly anchored it in a hidden cove near their village, waiting for him to claim it.
[Ship Unlocked: Queen's Grace]
[Ship Status: Fully operational. Crew slots available: 4. Training Ground: Active on deck.]
[Time Acceleration: 5x within Training Ground.]
Kaito inspected the rigging, the masts, and the helm. He wasn't a master sailor, but the system provided him with just enough navigational basics to move the ship safely.
For now.
Kuina adjusted her sword belt, her eyes scanning the sea. "So, where do we go first?"
Kaito spread the map over the deck. Unlike the Grand Line's unpredictable paths, East Blue's seas were relatively calm and mapped. Still, they needed to build experience, and fast.
"We won't rush to Loguetown," Kaito said. "The system recommends we visit smaller islands first. We need to train our sailing skills and prepare for real dangers."
Kuina raised an eyebrow. "Afraid of a little open water?"
"Afraid of losing you on the first storm."
Kuina smirked. "Fair enough."
The system chimed softly in Kaito's mind.
[New Sub-Mission: Recruit a Navigator.]
[Hint: Target located on Cocoyashi's outer islands.]
Kaito's eyes narrowed on the map. Cocoyashi… that was Nami's village.
But Nami wasn't his target.
The system directed him toward someone else.
"Nojiko," Kaito whispered. In his memories, she had stayed behind in the canon story, content to guard the village. But maybe, in this timeline, she could choose differently.
He folded the map and pointed east.
"We'll head toward Cocoyashi Village," Kaito said. "There's someone there I want to meet."
Kuina tied the sail ropes as Kaito turned the wheel, the ship gliding out of the cove and into the open sea.
The village shrank behind them until it disappeared beyond the mist.
Their journey had officially begun.
For the first time in his two lives, Kaito felt the weight of true freedom pressing against his chest.
The first days at sea were not as romantic as Kaito had imagined.
The Queen's Grace had speed and maneuverability, but neither he nor Kuina were seasoned sailors.
Strong winds would send the ship veering off course. Sudden waves would threaten to knock them overboard. They spent their first night drenched from an unexpected squall, their supplies sliding dangerously across the deck.
"Why are we turning left?!" Kuina shouted, struggling to pull the sail ropes as the ship drifted sharply.
"Because I think I turned the wheel wrong!" Kaito shouted back, gritting his teeth.
The Queen's Grace slammed through the waves, barely stabilizing.
They collapsed onto the deck, panting.
Kuina rolled onto her back. "We're idiots."
"Speak for yourself."
"Do you even know how to steer?"
"Not really."
They both broke into exhausted laughter.
After the storm passed, they spent hours in the onboard training ground where time moved faster.
In that accelerated space, Kaito practiced rigging, sail control, and ship repair using guidance from the system's mentor spirits.
Kuina trained her swordsmanship relentlessly, sometimes dragging Kaito into sparring sessions when he least expected it.
Days passed in this rhythm:
Train. Sail. Train. Survive.
It was brutal. It was exhilarating.
And slowly, they began to move as one with the ship.
One morning, as they crossed a quiet stretch of sea, Kaito spotted smoke rising in the distance.
He adjusted the wheel, steering toward a small island that wasn't on any of the old maps he carried.
As they approached, they saw the source of the smoke: a burning fishing village under attack by a ragtag group of pirates.
Kuina narrowed her eyes. "We're not just going to watch, right?"
"No," Kaito said, tightening his grip on the wheel. "Prepare to dock."
They anchored just beyond the burning docks. Kaito and Kuina leaped ashore, wooden swords in hand. They moved quickly through the chaotic streets, searching for survivors.
The pirates weren't from any notorious crew. They were small-time raiders, preying on weak villages.
But they carried real weapons.
And real lives were at stake.
Kaito dashed through the smoke, intercepting a pirate about to cut down a fleeing woman.
His wooden sword slammed into the pirate's ribs with a brutal crack, sending him sprawling.
"Go!" Kaito barked at the woman, who nodded tearfully and fled.
Kuina engaged three pirates at once, her wooden blade a blur of speed and precision. She disarmed them in seconds, her strikes sharp and efficient.
"These guys are weak," Kuina muttered, knocking another to the ground. "But they're dangerous to the villagers."
"We take them all down," Kaito said, his stance steady.
They fought their way through the village, systematically driving the pirates back toward their ship.
One of the pirates, the apparent leader, sneered. "Who the hell are you brats? Playing heroes?"
"We're not heroes," Kaito said calmly. "We just don't like you."
The pirate lunged at him with a crude axe, but Kaito sidestepped and struck the man's wrist with precise force, sending the weapon clattering to the ground.
Kuina moved like lightning, pressing her blade against the pirate's throat. "Leave. Now."
The pirate hesitated, then barked at his men to retreat. They fled to their ship and disappeared over the horizon, beaten by two unknown swordsmen.
The villagers emerged slowly, relief washing over their soot-streaked faces.
An older woman approached them, bowing deeply. "Thank you. If you hadn't arrived…"
Kaito shook his head. "We just happened to pass by."
Kuina glanced around the scorched homes. "You'll need help rebuilding."
The villagers worked together through the afternoon, salvaging what they could. Kaito and Kuina stayed to help repair the fishing boats and patch the damaged docks.
While helping secure a broken sail, Kaito noticed a young woman tying a rope with surprising precision.
She moved confidently, securing the knots quickly despite her small hands.
When their eyes met, she gave a polite nod. "You know, your ship's rigging is sloppy. If another storm hits, you'll lose your main sail."
Kaito raised an eyebrow. "You sail?"
The woman wiped sweat from her brow. "My father was a fisherman. I used to help him before… well, before he was taken by pirates."
Her voice was steady, but her eyes were distant.
Kuina approached, curious. "What's your name?"
"Nojiko," the woman replied.
Kaito's mind sharpened. Nojiko. The system's target.
But unlike in the canon story, this version of Nojiko wasn't waiting in Cocoyashi Village. She was already out here, already surviving, already skilled.
Kaito smiled. "We're looking for a navigator. Someone who knows how to handle rough seas. Interested?"
Nojiko studied him carefully. "Are you pirates?"
"We're sailors," Kaito said honestly. "We don't chase treasure. We don't raid towns. We're building a crew to rival someone."
"Rival who?"
"A man named Luffy."
Nojiko's lips twitched in a faint smile. "That's a strange goal."
"Strange goals make the best stories," Kaito said.
Nojiko looked out at the sea, her expression unreadable. "The villagers here will be safe now. But I can't rebuild this place alone. And I've always wanted to sail beyond these quiet shores."
She turned back to them, her eyes steady. "If you'll have me, I'll join you."
[System Notification: Nojiko Recruited – Navigator Position Filled.]
[Navigation Mentor Spirit Unlocked: Sailing Techniques Enhanced.]
Kaito extended his hand. "Welcome aboard."
Nojiko shook it firmly.
As they prepared to leave the next morning, the villagers gathered to send them off, grateful for the rescue.
Kuina adjusted the sails while Nojiko directed them toward the safest route.
Kaito took the helm, watching his growing crew with quiet pride.
Their journey was beginning to feel real now.
They weren't just two swordsmen on an empty ship.
They were a crew.
"Where to next?" Nojiko asked, brushing her blue hair behind her ear.
"There's a town called Syrup Village," Kaito said. "I heard someone there is good with medicine."
Nojiko nodded. "Then let's sail."
The Queen's Grace glided across the calm sea, its white sails pulling them toward their next destination.
Kaito glanced toward the horizon.
They still had much to learn, many more islands to visit, and rivals to meet.
But step by step, they would carve their own legend into the sea.