On the shore of an unnamed island in the East Blue…
"Luffy! You promised you'd just explore the island and not cause any trouble!"
Nami's frustrated yell echoed across the Going Merry.
"Why is it that in just a short while, you brought back some random guy? And now you're claiming he's the sixth member of our crew?"
Nami angrily pinched Luffy's rubbery cheek, pointing toward the smiling stranger standing beside him.
"You don't even know his name! Even if he is handsome, look at those weird clothes! What if he's a Marine? You realize you're worth 30 million Berries now, right? How many Marines out there would love to collect your head?"
"But…"
Luffy's face stretched as Nami tugged harder, his words muffled, "Nami, I don't think he's a bad guy. He's got interesting abilities, and what's wrong with someone new joining us? So what if his clothes are weird? Usopp's nose is weird too!"
"Oi, oi, oi! Hey! Why are you dragging me into this?!" Usopp protested, waving his hand as he scowled, "Aren't we supposed to be talking about him?!"
The moment Shirogai Yamikuro stepped onto the Merry, Zoro and Sanji instinctively positioned themselves around him, both watching the stranger warily.
Just this morning, they'd seen Luffy's new bounty poster. By the afternoon, some unknown man was trying to board their ship. The timing was too convenient.
As the main fighters of the Straw Hat Pirates, both Zoro and Sanji could sense immediately — this guy wasn't just some ordinary drifter.
Zoro stood silently beside Shirogai, hand resting on the hilt of his prized sword, Wado Ichimonji. His sharp gaze locked onto the stranger, ready to strike the moment anything felt off.
Sanji stood squarely in front of Shirogai, lowering his head as he lit a cigarette. Taking a deep drag, he looked up and spoke coldly, "We appreciate you saving Usopp. But showing up out of nowhere like this is too suspicious. Our captain… he's a good-natured fool. He trusts too easily. But we aren't that naive."
He exhaled a thin stream of smoke. "If you've got any bad intentions, it'd be best for you to leave right now. We won't raise our hands against you out of gratitude. But if you so much as think about harming Nami swan…" Sanji's gaze sharpened, "I'll personally kick you straight to hell."
Shirogai smiled at the threat. He couldn't help but chuckle when he saw Sanji's familiar blond hair and signature curly eyebrow. The moment felt unreal.
After all, back in his own world, he'd been a massive Sanji fan. That unwavering loyalty to his crewmates and his obsessive, if reckless, chivalry made Sanji one of his favorite characters. And now here he was, speaking to him face to face. It was surreal.
Sanji bristled, seeing the stranger laugh. "What's so damn funny, bastard? Think you can laugh off a threat? I'll end you right here!"
Waving a hand dismissively, Shirogai said, "Relax. I've got no ill will toward any of you."
He took a step back, looking around at the tense faces on the Merry, and then spoke calmly, "Let me properly introduce myself. My name is Shirogai Yamikuro. I'm 20 years old. I hail from a faraway, long-forgotten country. Circumstances have made it impossible for me to return home, and now I travel wherever the winds take me."
He smiled faintly. "I don't have any grand ambitions or vendettas. I just want to find interesting things in this world. When Captain Luffy invited me aboard, it sounded like a good idea. But if any of you have doubts about me, I'll disembark at the next island. All I ask is that you don't leave me stranded here."
Sanji and Zoro exchanged a silent glance. Neither liked it, but they both felt it — something about the man's presence was undeniable.
The next moment, they turned away from each other in disdain.
"Hmph."
"Tch."
Zoro released his grip on his sword, stepped forward, and gave Shirogai a sharp look. "If the captain says you're in, we can't stop him. But this crew isn't some kind of charity. What can you do? What are you good at?"
Shirogai spread his arms and grinned. "What can I do? Well… a lot, actually."
Ever since boarding the ship, he'd already quietly scanned both Zoro and Sanji, and his Comprehension System had done its work:
[Observed: Intermediate Three-Sword Style practitioner Understood: Advanced Three-Sword Style.]
[Observed: Enhanced genetic physique
Understood: Exoskeleton.]
[Observed: Intermediate Black Leg combat technique
Understood: Advanced Black Leg technique.]
[Observed: Perfect-level cooking skills
Understood: Master-level cooking.]
Zoro eyed him skeptically. "Yeah? Like what?"
Shirogai's grin widened. "For example… I can be a swordsman."
In a blink, he vanished from where he stood.
"Wha—?!" Zoro's eyes widened.
In an instant, Shirogai was in front of him, hand resting on the hilt of Wado Ichimonji at Zoro's waist.
"Like this," Shirogai murmured.
Before Zoro could react, his beloved sword was already in the stranger's hand.
A cold fury crossed Zoro's face. "Give it back," he growled. "You're not worthy to touch that sword."
Shirogai casually swung the blade a few times. "Excellent craftsmanship," he murmured. "I'll return it. Just wanted to borrow it for a moment."
Everyone on deck tensed.
Sanji took a fighting stance, cigarette clenched between his teeth, foot twitching as he readied a kick.
Off to the side, Usopp pulled out his slingshot, trembling. "Luffy, you idiot… bringing a total stranger aboard!"
Nami seized Luffy by the collar, shaking him. "This is your fault! Look, now they're gonna fight!"
But Luffy just grinned, watching with childlike glee. "It's fine! It's fun to fight with new nakama! Shirogai's not a bad guy — I can feel it."
Ignoring the tension, Shirogai turned away from them and walked to the ship's railing. Coating Wado Ichimonji with a layer of Busoshoku Haki, he raised the blade and swung it toward the distant island.
A ripple in the air shot forth.
"One-Sword Style: Great Evil Phoenix."
Sanji snorted. "What the hell's he doing now? Showing off?"
But Zoro's expression hardened. He had a bad feeling.
A moment later — a thunderous crack echoed across the sea. The unnamed island in the distance trembled violently, a jagged fissure splitting it down the middle. Seawater surged into the gap as the island slowly broke in two.
The Going Merry rocked as waves hit the shore.
Everyone stared in stunned silence.
Zoro's jaw tightened. "No way…"
Sanji's cigarette fell from his lips, forgotten. "What the hell?! Did he… did he just cut the island in half?!"
Nami and Usopp clung to each other, trembling. "Waaaah! What kind of monster did you bring onto the ship, Luffy?!"
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