On the rooftop of a building in Orange Town.
Pirates had gathered there, and one of them spoke to another,
"You still haven't caught the thief yet?"
"Sorry, Captain Buggy!"
A man with blue hair tied into twin pigtails, the center of his head exposed under his hat, shouted at his underling.
He wore heavy makeup on his face, and his large, round red nose stood out more than on anyone else.
"W-We at least punished the guy who let him slip away properly!"
"We all beat him until his face was nothing but bruises...!"
"Bruises? You're saying my nose is just a bruise right now?"
"N-No, that's not what—I mean...!"
At that moment, Buggy's hand detached from his body.
The wrist's severed end was jet black, and he grabbed the underling by the throat, lifting him into the air.
"Urk! C-Captain Buggy...!"
Bang!
The disembodied hand threw the underling aside, smashing through the wall.
He ended up pinned beneath the rubble of the wall, and as tension rippled among the other crewmates, Buggy stood up and spoke.
"On the day my reputation grows tenfold, is catching thieves what the great clown Buggy's crew should be doing?"
"We're sorry!!!"
With that, Buggy looked over the edge of the rooftop down below.
In the wide plaza below, a wooden post stood in the shape of a cross, and a man had his arms tied to its crossbeams.
The man was bound with his back toward the sun, and Buggy peered down at him.
"He's worth more than ten of those guys, right?"
"Still refusing to surrender... don't you plan on joining my crew?"
"Roronoa Zoro."
****
"By the way, you said you ate the Gum-Gum Fruit, right?"
"That's right."
"Then what was that thing you made with your hand earlier?"
"That's [Haki]. It's the hidden power of a person's will."
'Only I can shape [Haki] into a tangible form; it must be thanks to the fruit I ate.'
Luffy and Nami were inside a small house in town, seated across from each other at a table.
Hearing Nami's question, Luffy recalled his childhood.
The young Luffy, wearing his straw hat, held a golden sphere in his hand. In front of him stood a middle-aged man over two meters tall with a beard.
He knelt on one knee and placed both hands on the golden sphere.
"Feel it, Luffy. This is [Haki]."
"[Haki]? What's that, Grandpa?"
The man Luffy called Grandpa was none other than Monkey D. Garp, the hero of the Marines.
"There are three types of [Haki], but most people, lacking innate strength from birth, never realize it."
"Some never awaken it, no matter how hard they try, until they die. Awakening [Haki] is no easy feat."
"I've heard that facing extraordinary events can awaken one of the three types, or if one's physical strength reaches a certain abnormal level, another type might awaken."
"In the latter case, you activate [Armament Haki], but you're not that strong yet. The force surrounding you now is [Armament Haki], the kind that only a tiny few—myself included—can use."
"But I've never heard of someone awakening [Haki] through eating a Devil Fruit..."
"Does this mean I've become super strong, Grandpa? That's why I can use this [Haki]!"
"Luffy..."
Garp watched as Luffy raised both fists, enveloped in [Haki].
'That aura from his [Armament Haki]... even among advanced users, only a handful can project it like this,' he thought.
'Yet Luffy's [Armament Haki] feels faint, like smoke. Truly advanced users have a much clearer aura.'
'But even I can't form [Haki] into a solid sphere like that. Is it related to Luffy's Devil Fruit ability?' he wondered.
'And it's golden, not the usual white... Perhaps it's not pure [Haki] but a blend of powers.'
'I hope it helps Luffy someday...'
As Luffy cheerfully waved his arms, Garp reached out to tap his head.
Whack!
"Ouch! Why'd you hit me on the head?"
"Who told you to eat a Devil Fruit! A future Marine shouldn't have eaten something that makes him lose the ability to swim!"
"I'm not going to be a Marine! I'm going to be a pirate!"
"Not that again! After being saved by that Red-Haired kid...!"
"I told you, Shanks saved me!"
"That doesn't make you a pirate!"
"Don't come near Fusha Village for a while! Stay under the mountain bandits on Mount Corvo until you agree to become a Marine!"
"I hate bandits! They nearly killed me!"
"Then promise me you'll be a Marine!"
"No!"
Recalling those memories, Luffy turned back to Nami and continued his thoughts.
"A fruit that turns your body into rubber lets me use [Haki] specially... I don't get it, Devil Fruits."
"Do you know someone named Dr. Vegapunk? He's a very famous scientist."
"He's always on the front page of the papers, so I know him."
"He once proposed a hypothesis about Devil Fruits."
"He said Devil Fruits are born from humanity's dreams—people's wishes made real—and their powers are dreams manifested into the physical world."
"But because these powers defy nature's laws, they draw the sea's hatred—Nature's Mother herself."
"So if you fall into the sea, you lose your power and drown. That's Vegapunk's theory."
"I always wished to be stronger when I was a kid."
"According to that theory, the Gum-Gum Fruit I ate is the result of my desire to grow stronger."
"It's pretty fantastical for a famous scientist's theory."
"So do other Devil Fruits grant whatever power the eater wants?"
"No. Other fruits grant fixed abilities; they don't tailor powers to the eater."
"That makes the Gum-Gum Fruit special."
"Sounds like an amazing fruit."
'In the later arcs, it was basically the author telling us about Devil Fruits through Vegapunk's mouth.'
'Remembering reincarnation memories and the manga's story, I get it now.'
'Unlike the original Luffy, whose Gum-Gum Fruit simply made him stretchy, I gained the ability to manipulate [Haki].'
'First reason is my previous life; [Haki] is the power of will, not just the body.'
'Even if I ate it young, my past life would have influenced me, so recalling that life was inevitable.'
'Second reason, just like in the original, the real name of the fruit I ate might not be the Gum-Gum Fruit.'
'Its ability is not just to stretch but to grant greater strength and freedom to the body.'
'That fruit's actual name is...'
"What are you thinking about so hard, Luffy?"
"Huh?"
Nami leaned forward, breaking Luffy's reverie.
'I've been thinking too much about my past life memories. Let's focus on more important things now.'
"Oh... I was thinking about what you said: defeating Buggy."
"I never said 'defeat' him! I said let's steal their treasure while I distract them!"
"It'd be better to knock him out while drawing attention."
"Drawing attention only needs a moment. They're focusing on killing the famous pirate hunter Roronoa Zoro today."
"If they've caught him, they'd kill him right away. Why keep someone with no bounty alive?"
"Zoro is famous as a pirate hunter in East Blue now."
"If word gets out that they killed him, Buggy's notoriety would skyrocket. They'll need a photo for the papers, too."
"Right... in the pirate world, it's kill or be killed."
"Killing someone strong prevents other pirates from looking down on you, so pirates often fight each other."
"You know a lot about pirates?"
"Because... I'm a pirate?"
"L-Luffy! You're a pirate?"
Nami jumped up from her chair, and Luffy answered,
"Oh, let me clarify so there's no misunderstanding."
"My first goal is to return this straw hat to the person who saved my life."
"Second is to find the One Piece and become Pirate King."
"And beyond that, living freely is enough, so I won't plunder."
"That makes you an adventurer, not a pirate."
"The person who saved me didn't plunder either. But I promised him when I was a kid that I'd become a pirate king and meet him."
"So I call myself a pirate."
"Wouldn't it be easier to just say you're an adventurer and avoid trouble?"
"He lost an arm saving me."
"That was our childhood promise. No matter what, I'll keep it."
"Now it's not just for him; I promised myself too."
"It's my conviction—won't change it."
"...Okay."
'What an idiot.'
'How dangerous is it to go around calling yourself a pirate on these seas.'
'Merchant ships will flee, and the Marines will fire at you from afar.'
'That's only natural... but you look so clueless you might not know.'
'But why are you so set on this, Luffy?'
'Is that conviction as precious as your life?'
Silence fell as Nami pondered, then Luffy spoke.
"Anyway, I want to form a pirate crew. The stronger the better."
"So I'll meet Zoro and ask him to join. I'll also capture Buggy and turn him in for the bounty."
"Luffy... you'd accept anyone who's just strong? Even a killer?"
"Life on a ship is tough, Nami."
"Without a strict hierarchy like the Marines', conflicts are bound to happen."
"But I don't want to be a captain enforcing such rules. I'll choose crew members who get along well."
"So I won't recruit murderers or plunderers."
"Then give up on Roronoa Zoro. It's better to let him keep them distracted while we steal Buggy Pirates' treasure."
"Why? Did he do something bad?"
"Rumor says he's called a bloodthirsty beast."
"He's not the only bounty hunter in East Blue, but that name means he's a mad killer!"
"Hmm, judging someone by rumors alone..."
Bang!
As Nami spoke, a middle-aged man with curly white hair burst through the door.
Wearing glasses and leather armor with a spear on his back, he shouted,
"I can't just stand by and listen!"
"Who are you?"
"I'm the village chief! And the owner of this house!"
"Nami, you can't break and enter!"
"I-I'm sorry, Chief. I thought it was empty... Wait, you came in too!"
"Sorry, Chief. I only heard that the villagers were out on the outskirts because of pirates, so I entered."
"That's not the issue. What she said is the problem."
"Roronoa Zoro isn't a bad man. He actually saved us."
The chief recalled what happened,
"Zoro! You'd better run too!"
"I felt I owed him for feeding and sheltering us."
"He's Roronoa Zoro, the famous pirate hunter!"
Back then, as the chief and villagers fled from pirates two days ago, Zoro held them off with a sword in each hand—and one in his mouth.
"While we ran from the pirates that came two days ago, Zoro fought them, buying us time."
"Ah, I see..."
"See, Nami, judging by rumors alone is never good."
"Let today be a lesson..."
"Okay, okay, enough lecturing me, Chief!"
"Right."
"You're doing this on purpose! Trying to piss me off!"
"...A little?"
"Why? Was that slap not enough?"
"No, I just find your reactions entertaining."
"Your personality's really something!"
'I guess teasing Nami is fun. Was it as fun as Shanks teasing me?'
"By the way, Chief, why did you come to town?"
"To rescue Zoro."
Luffy answered, and Nami asked,
"Come alone?"
"Yeah. I told the villagers it was just a warning to keep watch for pirates."
"But I'm not going back without saving Zoro, who saved our people."
"It's too dangerous! You should report to the Marines and wait..."
"I already did. But I can't just wait for them to arrive."
"I overheard the pirates. They plan to kill Zoro today!"
"Even so, alone..."
"This village was built forty years ago by me and our parents on a barren wasteland that pirates had stolen everything from!"
The chief recalled his youth—smooth-faced with black hair—
"Forget the village the pirates destroyed."
"We'll build a new one—our village!"
With tears in his eyes, he continued,
"All the comrades who started with me died... only I remain. And thanks to Zoro, I saved the lives of their children."
"Straw Hat kid, you say you won't plunder but you're still a pirate."
"...Yes."
"To me, my villagers are treasure, just as gold is treasure to pirates."
"I can't just stand by when Zoro saved these people!"
He knelt before Luffy and pleaded,
"I originally planned to rescue Zoro when the pirates let their guard down, even if I got caught."
"But you appeared. From what I overheard, you're odd but good."
"Please! While I distract the pirates, save Zoro!"
"Chief..."
"I'm not offering no reward. I've hidden my entire fortune under this floor!"
"It's only about three million Berries, but if you take it..."
"Chief, you've got it backwards."
"I'll both distract them and make the rescue."
"W-What...?"
As the chief looked up at Luffy, Luffy said,
"I've been looking for people who could become my crew."
"But after hearing you, I like Zoro more. Roronoa Zoro."
'In the original story, Zoro was captured by Morgan's son for killing the boy's pet wolf threatening a girl.'
'But unlike the original, I caught Morgan. And I didn't see Zoro in Shells Town either, so I assumed he was safe somewhere.'
'But Zoro appeared near me, captured while helping someone in danger, just like in the original.'
Luffy passed by the chief and headed for the door, thinking,
'In the original, the chief who wasn't captured by Buggy told original Luffy to leave him to fight Buggy.'
'But this chief kneels before me—his grandson's age—to ask for help. Someone who once refused help now begs for the village's savior.'
'I like them both, so I won't let them die.'
With that thought, Luffy opened the door and stepped outside. Nami watched his back and said,
"Luffy... why go this far?"
"What do you mean?"
"You said you want to live freely, so why...?"
"I... remembered someone I want to emulate."
"I entrust this hat to you."
Recalling Shanks's words, Luffy turned and looked at Nami.
"So I can't just walk away."
"Someone you want to emulate?"
"Well... I'm only following in his footsteps, really."
"But if I chase his footsteps, maybe I'll at least not be ashamed to stand beside him—that's my thought. That's it."
"Luffy..."
Luffy looked at Nami, whose face had turned red, and continued,
"Oh, and this isn't related to teasing you."
"I do that just for fun."
"Seriously! Are you sick with being cool from start to finish?"
"Was I cool just now?"
"No, not at all!"
"Then I'll accept your earlier suggestion to knock out Buggy."
"...I never suggested knocking him out."
Nami looked at him for a moment, then smiled and said,
"I like money. My goal remains stealing Buggy Pirates' treasure."
"But if the chance comes... I'll help a bit."
"Thanks, Nami. I mean it."
"I'm not doing it for free! After we steal all Buggy's treasure and have spare time, I'll help!"
"That's enough. Let's go."
"Thanks for both your help! I'll do my best to back you two...!"
"Chief, can you just stay here?"
"You two are going to fight for Zoro—how can I stay behind!"
"I hate to say it, Chief, but you'll just be in the way."
With that, the three of them left the house, heading where Buggy and Zoro were.