The salty air whipped across the deck of the small ship, a constant reminder of the journey ahead. The atmosphere between the three crew members of the Straw Hat Pirates was once again tense. Nami, her bright orange hair a stark contrast to the vast blue sea, stood with her arms crossed, glaring at Luffy. Her eyes were narrowed in frustration, her lips a thin line of annoyance.
"I told you we need to be better prepared for the Grand Line!" she snapped, her voice cutting through the wind. "Do you even realize we're short on everything? We don't have enough navigation maps, a proper log pose, medicine, or even enough food to last a long voyage!"
Luffy, the cause of this argument, simply scratched his head, a carefree smile plastered on his face. His straw hat shadowed his eyes, but his grin was unmistakable. "We have enough food! And besides, Nami-san, you'll take care of it, right?"
Zoro, leaning against the main mast, kept his eyes closed as if he were asleep. Three swords rested at his side, giving him an air of surprising calm. "And sake," he mumbled without opening his eyes. "As long as we have sake and food, what's there to worry about?"
Nami let out a frustrated sigh, feeling utterly helpless against the two men's incredible lack of foresight. She unrolled a map on the deck. "You two idiots! At the very least, we have to go to the nearest island to resupply. According to the map, we need to head south. There's a small island called Syrup Village. That's where we'll make landfall."
And so, the small ship continued to cut through the waves, heading south, carrying three individuals with vastly different goals and personalities, but a shared destination.
Meanwhile, on a beautiful beach in Syrup Village, a shout pierced the morning's tranquility. It was the voice of a young man with a distinctively long nose, like a fairytale Pinocchio.
"The pirates are coming! The pirates are coming!"
Usopp, wearing his brown overalls and a bandana, sprinted through the village's cobblestone streets. He ran past white-painted wooden houses, quaint little shops, and flourishing orchards. The entire village seemed to awaken from its slumber, and people rushed out of their homes to hear what he had to say.
His words sent a few people into a panic, but when Usopp reached the village square, he burst into laughter. A hearty, carefree laugh, devoid of any real worry.
"Aha! You've been tricked! There are no pirates! It was just a joke! I am Usopp, the infamous liar of Syrup Village!"
The villagers, long accustomed to his pranks, sighed in disappointment. A middle-aged woman holding a basket of vegetables shook her head. "That boy! Can't he ever tell the truth?"
Usopp, making a swift escape from the villagers' wrath, hid in a nearby bush. He chuckled to himself as he watched them search for him. "They fell for it again! I'm Usopp, the village's greatest liar!"
He only emerged from the bush when the villagers gave up and returned to their homes. He headed to a small hill with lush green grass and large trees. It was the spot where he would often gather his "pirate crew."
The two young boys, Piiman and Ninjin, were already waiting there. Ninjin, with his wide, innocent eyes and curly hair, asked, "Usopp-san, you lied again today?"
Usopp puffed out his chest proudly. "Of course! I have to uphold my reputation as the infamous liar, don't I?"
Just then, Tamanegi, the third boy, came running, his face pale with fear. "Usopp-san! Pirates... pirates are really coming this time!"
Usopp and the other two boys laughed. "That's another one of your pranks, Tamanegi?" said Piiman. "We've heard that a hundred times."
"No! This time it's for real!" Tamanegi yelled. "It's a big ship with the Buggy Pirates' flag! I even saw three pirates on the deck!"
Usopp's face turned pale. The Buggy Pirates were a notorious crew on the Grand Line. He quickly looked for an excuse to escape. "No... I... I'm busy! I have to go home and help my mom... no, my dad... no, I have to help the village!"
But Piiman, Ninjin, and Tamanegi saw right through his fear. "Are you scared, Usopp-san?" Ninjin asked, his voice filled with disappointment.
"Of course not!" Usopp quickly protested. "I'm just... I was just checking to see if you guys were brave enough!"
Then he remembered Tamanegi's words: "Only three pirates?" Usopp regained his composure, stood up straight, and shouted, "Then we'll teach them a lesson! I am Captain Usopp, the bravest man in this village!"
On the small beach, Luffy, Nami, and Zoro had just come ashore. Luffy jumped off the ship, breathing in the fresh island air. "Awesome! We're finally on land!"
Nami looked around, feeling a bit uneasy. "It's so peaceful. But why do I feel like someone is watching us?"
Zoro, with his keen swordsman's senses, smirked. He scanned the area and finally fixed his gaze on a large rock. "Someone's up there."
Usopp and the boys panicked. Piiman, Ninjin, and Tamanegi immediately fled, leaving Usopp all alone. Having no other choice, Usopp had to confront the three pirates he thought were from Buggy's crew.
"Hey! I'm Captain Usopp! The commander of the entire village defense force!" he shouted, his voice trembling slightly. "My thousands of soldiers are waiting for my command! One snap of my fingers and you'll be wiped out!"
Nami laughed. "Who does he think we are? There are only three of us."
Usopp tried to maintain a serious expression, but he accidentally blurted out the truth: "No... I... I wasn't lying... I mean... my army... they're busy..."
Luffy burst out laughing, pointing at Usopp. "You're hilarious! What's your name?"
Usopp, realizing he'd been found out, had no choice but to confess: "I'm Usopp, the bravest and... um... proudest man in the village!"
Later, at a small restaurant in the village, Luffy, Zoro, and Nami were enjoying a meal. The aroma of grilled fish and fresh seafood filled the room. Usopp, still in shock, sat across from them.
He told them about a large mansion on the island, where a wealthy but sickly young girl named Kaya lived. Her parents had passed away, leaving their entire fortune to her. Usopp suggested they might find a good ship there.
"No, we're not going there," Nami said flatly. "Something doesn't feel right. My gut tells me something's off. We'll go to the next village to look for a ship."
Usopp, clearly disappointed, made one last offer: "Well... how about I become your captain? I know everything about these seas!"
Luffy, still absorbed in his meal, didn't even acknowledge the offer. He chewed a large piece of meat and said, "No thanks, Usopp. We already have a captain. It's me!"
Usopp could only sigh and sit in silence, watching Luffy and Zoro eat with gusto. He felt a mix of jealousy, sadness, and a bit of admiration.
At the same time, in Kaya's lavish mansion with its sprawling gardens, Kaya was sitting in her bed, talking to Klahadore, her stern butler.
"Klahadore, could you arrange for me to see Usopp?" she asked.
Klahadore, with his round glasses and neatly combed hair, replied, "Miss Kaya, you know his stories are just lies."
But Kaya only smiled. "That's not the point. His stories always make me feel happy. I feel like I'm traveling all over the world."