The boats crashed onto the shore of Orange Town just as the sun began its descent toward the horizon, painting the sky in shades of amber and blood-red.
Shiro leapt onto the sand, his awareness already spread wide, searching. His psychic net swept through the town—empty buildings, frightened civilians hiding in basements, and at the center of it all—
Luffy.
Alive. Unharmed. And eating.
Shiro's eye twitched. "Of course he's eating."
Zoro jumped out beside him, swords already drawn. "Where is he?"
Shiro pointed toward the town square. "That way. But there's something else."
Nami climbed out more carefully, clutching her staff. "What?"
Shiro's expression was strange—somewhere between disbelief and resigned amusement. "There's a fight happening. A big one."
Zoro's grin turned feral. "Good. I need to cut something after rowing for two hours straight."
They ran toward the town center, Shiro's awareness guiding them through the abandoned streets. The buildings were intact but empty—doors hanging open, windows dark, as if everyone had fled in a hurry.
Then they heard it.
An explosion.
The ground shook, and smoke billowed into the sky from the direction of the square.
"THAT WAS FUN!" Luffy's voice echoed through the streets, laughing wildly. "DO IT AGAIN!"
Zoro's eyebrow twitched. "He's insane."
"You're just realizing this now?" Nami muttered.
They burst into the town square—and Shiro stopped dead in his tracks.
The scene before him was chaos incarnate.
Luffy stood in the center of the square, surrounded by unconscious pirates. His straw hat sat crooked on his head, his grin impossibly wide, and in his hands—an enormous half-eaten leg of meat.
Around him, overturned carts of food lay scattered across the cobblestones. Bread, fruit, roasted meat—all half-devoured.
And standing across from Luffy, face red with rage, was a man in a captain's coat with a massive red nose that dominated his face like a clown's prop.
Buggy the Clown.
Shiro's mind went blank for half a second.
No. No, no, no. We weren't supposed to be here. I deliberately avoided this route. The bird was random. This should have been skipped—
But the evidence was undeniable.
Canon had followed them anyway.
"How..." Shiro whispered, his voice barely audible.
Nami glanced at him. "What?"
Shiro shook his head, forcing his thoughts to settle. "Nothing. Let's just... deal with this."
But inside, his mind was racing. He'd tried to change the route. He'd tried to skip Buggy entirely. But fate—or destiny, or whatever force governed this world—had dragged them here anyway.
The bird wasn't coincidence.
It was correction.
Shiro's jaw tightened. So that's how it is. The story has weight. Momentum. I can influence it, but I can't just delete entire arcs.
He filed that information away. Learn. Adapt. Survive.
"WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?!" Buggy roared at Luffy, his voice shrill and furious. "YOU JUST ATE ALL MY CREW'S FOOD!"
Luffy swallowed the last bite of meat, then grinned unapologetically. "It was really good! Thanks!"
A vein bulged on Buggy's forehead. "THAT WASN'T A COMPLIMENT! THAT WAS THREE DAYS' WORTH OF SUPPLIES!"
Luffy tilted his head. "Then you should've eaten faster."
Buggy's face turned purple. "I'M GOING TO BLOW YOU INTO A MILLION PIECES!"
He reached into his coat and pulled out a spherical object with a fuse—a Buggy Ball.
Shiro's eyes widened. "Luffy, move—"
Buggy lit the fuse and hurled it.
The Buggy Ball arced through the air, spinning end over end.
Luffy's eyes flickered—Observation Haki activating—and he moved.
He stretched his arm back, grabbing onto a nearby building, and launched himself sideways just as the Buggy Ball hit the ground where he'd been standing.
BOOM.
The explosion tore through the square, cobblestones erupting into shrapnel, smoke billowing outward in a massive wave.
When the smoke cleared, Luffy stood on a rooftop, completely unharmed, grinning down at Buggy. "That was close!"
Buggy's jaw dropped. "You... you dodged that?!"
Luffy cracked his knuckles. "I saw it coming." His grin turned sharp. "My turn."
He launched himself off the roof like a slingshot. "Gomu Gomu no—Pistol!"
His fist shot forward.
Buggy's body split apart.
His torso separated from his legs, his head from his shoulders, and Luffy's punch sailed harmlessly through the gap between his floating body parts.
Luffy's eyes went wide. "WHOA! YOU CAME APART!"
Buggy's disembodied head cackled, floating in midair. "That's right! I ate the Bara Bara no Mi! I'm a Splitting Human! Blades can't cut me, and punches can't touch me! I'm invincible!"
His separated hand flew forward, gripping a knife, and slashed at Luffy from an impossible angle.
Luffy twisted, barely dodging. "That's a weird power!"
Zoro stepped into the square, his swords gleaming. "Luffy. Need help?"
Luffy glanced back, grinning. "Nah! But his crew's coming back! You can fight them!"
Sure enough, from the side streets, more pirates emerged—dozens of them, all wearing mismatched armor and carrying crude weapons.
At the front of the group, a man in a fur vest rode atop an enormous lion. His hair was wild, his grin arrogant.
"That's Mohji the Beast Tamer!" one of the pirates shouted. "And his lion, Richie!"
Beside him, a man on a unicycle appeared, his body clad in a checkered outfit, his expression cold and focused. He carried a long sword at his side.
"Cabaji the Acrobat," another pirate whispered in awe. "The Chief of Staff!"
Zoro's grin widened. "Good. I was getting bored."
He drew all three swords, settling into his stance. "Luffy, handle the clown. I'll take care of the rest."
Luffy gave a thumbs-up. "Got it!"
Shiro stayed at the edge of the square, his awareness spread wide, tracking every movement. He didn't step forward to fight—this wasn't his battle.
But he was ready to intervene if things went wrong.
Nami stayed beside him, clutching her staff nervously. "They're outnumbered."
Shiro shook his head. "Numbers don't matter when you're stronger."
Mohji kicked Richie's side, and the massive lion roared, charging at Zoro with claws extended.
Zoro didn't move until the lion was five meters away.
Then he stepped forward, swords flashing in a precise arc.
"Oni Giri."
The attack was too fast to see. Three blade strikes crossed simultaneously, and Richie's roar cut off mid-sound.
The lion collapsed, unconscious, three shallow cuts across its torso.
Mohji's jaw dropped. "R-Richie?!"
Zoro glanced at him, unimpressed. "Next."
Mohji scrambled backward, terror written across his face. "Y-you monster!"
Cabaji pedaled forward on his unicycle, his sword drawn. "I'll handle this one, Mohji. He's just a swordsman. Nothing special."
Zoro's grin turned dangerous. "Nothing special? Let's test that."
Cabaji launched himself into the air, spinning his unicycle like a weapon, his sword slashing downward in a spiraling attack.
Zoro blocked with one sword, the impact ringing out like a bell.
Cabaji flipped backward, landing on his unicycle without missing a beat. "Not bad. But can you handle this?!"
He pulled out a handful of spinning tops from his coat and threw them at Zoro's feet. They spun rapidly, creating a chaotic field of movement.
Zoro's eyes tracked them calmly. "Toys."
He stepped between the spinning tops without touching a single one, his footwork precise, his swords steady.
Cabaji's confidence faltered. "What—?!"
Zoro moved. One step, one slash.
"Tora Gari."
His swords crossed Cabaji's chest before the acrobat could react.
Cabaji's eyes rolled back, and he collapsed off his unicycle, crashing to the ground.
The remaining pirates stared in horror.
"He... he took down the Chief of Staff in one move!"
"RUN!"
They scattered like leaves in the wind.
Zoro sheathed one sword, breathing steadily. "Too easy."
Meanwhile, Luffy and Buggy's fight escalated.
Buggy's floating hands flew through the air, each one holding a knife, slashing at Luffy from every angle.
Luffy dodged, his body bending impossibly, his Observation Haki guiding him. "You're fast! But I'm faster!"
He stretched both arms back, winding them around buildings. "Gomu Gomu no—Bazooka!"
Both fists launched forward.
Buggy split his body again, but this time Luffy's fists curved midair, tracking Buggy's floating torso.
"WHAT?!" Buggy's eyes bulged.
The punches slammed into him from both sides, and Buggy's body flew backward, crashing through a wooden cart.
Luffy landed, grinning. "Shiro taught me to aim better!"
Buggy staggered to his feet, his nose red and swollen. "YOU BRAT! YOU'LL PAY FOR THAT!"
He pulled out another Buggy Ball, lit it, and threw it directly at a nearby building where civilians were hiding.
Luffy's grin vanished. "HEY! PEOPLE ARE IN THERE!"
His eyes sharpened, and he moved—faster than before.
"Gomu Gomu no—Rocket!"
He launched himself at the Buggy Ball, catching it midair with both hands.
The fuse was still burning.
Luffy grinned wildly, spun in place, and hurled it straight up into the sky.
The Buggy Ball exploded harmlessly above the town, a flower of fire and smoke blossoming in the twilight.
Buggy's jaw dropped. "He... he threw it away?!"
Luffy landed in front of Buggy, his expression serious now. "You don't hurt people just because you're mad."
Buggy's face twisted. "Don't lecture me, brat! I'm a pirate! I do what I want!"
Luffy's fist clenched. "Then I'm gonna kick your ass."
He stretched his arm back as far as it would go, winding it around three buildings.
Buggy's eyes widened. "Wait—"
"Gomu Gomu no—"
Luffy's fist rocketed forward, spinning, accelerating, unstoppable.
"GATLING!"
His fist blurred into dozens of strikes, each one slamming into Buggy's reassembled body with devastating force.
Buggy tried to split apart, but Luffy's attacks came too fast, too many, from too many angles.
The final punch connected with Buggy's jaw, and the clown pirate flew backward, crashing into a building and collapsing in a heap.
Silence fell over the square.
Luffy stood in the center, breathing hard, his grin returning. "That was fun!"
Zoro walked up, sheathing his swords. "Took you long enough."
Luffy laughed. "He was tougher than he looked!"
Shiro stepped forward, his expression unreadable. "You both did well."
Nami, meanwhile, had slipped away during the fight.
She reappeared moments later, dragging a massive sack behind her, her face flushed with exertion and excitement.
Zoro raised an eyebrow. "What's that?"
Nami grinned. "Buggy's treasure. About two million beli."
Zoro's eye twitched. "You looted him while we were fighting?"
"Someone had to," Nami said innocently. "You were busy."
Shiro chuckled. "Smart."
From the side streets, villagers began to emerge—cautiously at first, then with growing confidence.
An older man with a weather-beaten face stepped forward, tears in his eyes. "You... you saved us. Buggy and his crew have been terrorizing this town for weeks."
Shiro scratched his head. "We just wanted our captain back." While Luffy shouted,"And food."
The old man—the village chief, Boodle—laughed despite his tears. "Then let us thank you properly. Tonight, we feast!"
Luffy's eyes lit up like stars. "FEAST?!"
Night fell over Orange Town, and the square transformed. Tables were set up, food was brought out from hidden stores, and a bonfire roared at the center of the square, its light dancing across the faces of villagers and pirates alike.
Luffy ate like a bottomless pit, shouting between bites about how great the food was.
Zoro drank steadily, his expression relaxed for the first time since they'd landed.
Nami sat with the village women, listening to their stories and quietly calculating how to invest the stolen treasure.
And Shiro...
Shiro sat at the edge of the firelight, staring at the unconscious Buggy, who'd been tied up and propped against a wall.
His mind was still turning over the day's events.
The bird. The detour. The inevitable arrival at Orange Town despite his attempts to avoid it.
Destiny has weight, Shiro thought. I can't just skip major events. The world pulls us back onto the path.
He stood, walked over to Buggy, and nudged him awake with his foot.
Buggy groaned, his eyes fluttering open. "What... what do you want?"
Shiro crouched down, his purple eyes calm but intense. "To talk."
Buggy blinked, confused. "Talk? About what?"
Shiro's voice was quiet, almost contemplative. "About inherited will. About destiny. About the Roger Pirates."
Buggy's entire body went rigid. "How do you know about—?!"
Shiro smiled faintly. "I know a lot of things. You sailed with Gol D. Roger. You were there when he became Pirate King. You knew Shanks. You were part of something legendary."
Buggy's expression twisted—anger, shame, regret, all mixed together. "So what? That was a long time ago."
Shiro studied him carefully. "You and Shanks were like brothers once. What happened?"
Buggy's jaw tightened. "None of your business."
Shiro didn't push. Instead, he asked a different question. "Do you believe in inherited will?"
Buggy's eyes narrowed. "What kind of question is that?"
Shiro's gaze drifted to the bonfire, where Luffy was laughing, his straw hat glowing in the firelight. "Roger left something behind. Not just treasure. Not just the One Piece. He left a will. A dream. A challenge to the world."
Buggy followed his gaze, his expression conflicted. "Roger's dead. His dream died with him."
Shiro shook his head. "No. Dreams don't die. They get passed on. Shanks carries it. And so does Luffy."
Buggy's eyes flicked to Luffy, something unreadable crossing his face. "That brat?"
Shiro nodded. "That brat is going to become Pirate King. Just like Roger."
Buggy laughed—bitter, sharp. "You're insane."
Shiro's smile didn't waver. "Maybe. But I'm also right."
He stood, brushing off his pants. "You were part of something great once, Buggy. You sailed with legends. You saw the peak of the pirate world. And now you're here, terrorizing a small town in East Blue."
Buggy's face flushed with anger. "Shut up! You don't know anything about me!"
Shiro's voice softened. "You're right. I don't. But I know this: you gave up. Shanks didn't. And that's the difference."
Buggy's fists clenched, but he didn't respond.
Shiro turned to walk away, then paused. "One more question. When Roger died, he said something. 'I'm not going to die, partner.' What do you think he meant?"
Buggy's eyes widened, his breath catching. "How... how do you know about that?"
Shiro glanced back, his expression unreadable. "I told you. I know things."
He didn't wait for an answer. He walked back toward the bonfire, leaving Buggy sitting in stunned silence.
Buggy stared after him, his mind racing.
Who is this guy? How does he know about the crew? About Roger? About... everything?
And the question Shiro had asked echoed in his mind.
"I'm not going to die, partner."
Roger's last words to Rayleigh.
Words that suggested something deeper than just execution.
Words that suggested... continuation.
Buggy's gaze drifted to Luffy again, to the straw hat that looked so much like the one Roger used to wear.
No. It can't be.
But doubt had taken root.
Around the fire
Shiro returned to the bonfire, where Luffy was challenging villagers to eating contests and losing spectacularly to himself.
Zoro glanced at Shiro. "What were you talking to the clown about?"
Shiro sat down, his expression thoughtful. "Just... curious about something."
Zoro didn't press, but his eyes were sharp. "You're weird."
Shiro smiled. "I get that a lot."
Nami walked over, holding a plate of food. "So what happens to Buggy?"
Shiro shrugged. "We leave him here. He's not a real threat. And honestly? He'll end up in the Grand Line eventually anyway."
Nami raised an eyebrow. "You sound pretty certain."
Shiro's smile turned mysterious. "Just a feeling."
The night wore on. Villagers danced around the bonfire, music filled the air, and laughter echoed through the square.
Luffy stood on a table, arms raised, shouting at the stars. "I'M GONNA BE PIRATE KING!"
The villagers cheered.
Zoro drank, his smile small but genuine.
Nami counted beli in her head, already planning their next moves.
And Shiro sat quietly, watching the flames dance, his mind still turning over the day's revelations.
I can't control destiny. But I can guide it. Shape it. Remove the unnecessary cruelty while preserving the growth.
The bird taught me that.
Canon has momentum. But momentum can be redirected.
He glanced at Luffy, who was now trying to balance three plates of food on his head.
This crew is going to change the world.
I just have to make sure they survive long enough to do it.
The fire crackled, the stars wheeled overhead, and the crew rested.
Tomorrow, they would sail for Syrup Village.
But tonight, they celebrated.
And Shiro, for the first time since the bird had stolen his captain, allowed himself to relax.
Just a little.