The morning sun cast golden rays across the Going Merry's deck as a News Coo circled overhead. The bird dropped its delivery - a newspaper that fluttered down, along with something that immediately caught Nami's eye. She picked up the loose paper, and her eyes widened before a laugh escaped her lips.
"Everyone! Come look at this!" she called out, unable to contain her amusement.
The crew gathered around her, curious about what could make their navigator laugh so freely. There it was - Luffy's first wanted poster. The image showed their captain amid the Cocoyashi Village celebration, his signature straw hat perched on his head and that impossibly wide grin on his face. Behind him, the villagers were caught mid-dance; their figures were slightly blurred, but their joy was unmistakable in the warm sunset light.
"Shishishi! Look at that! 55 million berries!" Luffy beamed, pointing at the numbers beneath his photo. He was practically bouncing with excitement.
"That's from the party after we beat Arlong!" Nami realized, her fingers tracing the familiar silhouettes of her hometown's people in the background. Despite her usual stance against anything that might attract marine attention, she couldn't help but smile at the memory.
"They couldn't have picked a less threatening photo," Zoro smirked, but there was unmistakable pride in his voice. "Only you could get a bounty looking like you're having the time of your life."
"The World Government's going to hunt down our captain because of a party photo," Usopp said incredulously, then burst out laughing. "That's so... perfectly Luffy!"
Sanji lit a cigarette, shaking his head with amusement. "Only you could get your first bounty with a celebration shot, not a battle shot. Though I suppose beating up Arlong isn't exactly something they could photograph."
The official text read: WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE MONKEY D. LUFFY "STRAW HAT" Bounty: 55,000,000 Berries.
[Kuraigana Island]
Dracule Mihawk sat in his castle, sipping wine and reading the newspaper when the wanted poster fell out. His hawk-like eyes narrowed as he recognized the boy with the straw hat.
"So, you've made your first mark on the world," he mused, examining the poster. "Interesting choice of photo... though perhaps fitting for one who caught Roronoa's loyalty."
He remembered their encounter at the Baratie, how the boy had declared his dream without hesitation. "The King of the Pirates, was it?" Mihawk's lips curved slightly. "Let's see how far that unwavering spirit takes you."
[Somewhere in the New World]
Aboard the Moby Dick, Portgas D. Ace was enjoying breakfast with his crew when Marco flew in with the newspaper.
"Oi, Ace! You might want to see this, yoi," Marco called out, tossing the wanted poster.
Ace caught it mid-bite, and his eyes widened before he broke into a huge grin. "LUFFY!" he shouted, standing up so suddenly he knocked over his chair. "Look at this, everyone! My little brother's got his first bounty!"
The Second Division Commander proudly showed the poster to anyone within reach. "55 million! And look at that stupid grin - hasn't changed a bit!"
"Your brother seems... interesting," Thatch commented, looking at the party scene in the photo.
"Of course he is! He's my little brother!" Ace beamed with pride. "Though I should probably warn him about being more careful... Nah, he wouldn't listen anyway!"
[East Blue]
In the depths of the East Blue, a massive sea king - the same one that Luffy had befriended on his first day of sailing - surfaced near a floating newspaper. Its eyes focused on the familiar face in the wanted poster.
The creature made a sound that might have been happiness, remembering the strange human who promised to meet again. It dove back under, taking the poster with it to add to its collection of shiny things.
[Foosha Village]
"Mayor! Mayor!" Makino rushed into the bar, holding the newspaper. "Look at this!"
Mayor Woop Slap adjusted his glasses, his face turning red with anger. "That troublemaker! I knew he'd bring shame to our village!"
But Makino just smiled, looking at Luffy's grinning face. "He looks so happy... just like when he was little."
"He's a pirate now! A criminal!" the Mayor protested, but his voice lacked its usual conviction.
"But he's still our Luffy," Makino said softly, pinning the poster on the bar's wall. "And look - he's still wearing Shanks' hat."
[Dadan's Hideout]
Dadan stared at the poster, tears welling up despite her attempts to look tough. The mountain bandits gathered around her, all trying to get a look at their former charge's first wanted poster.
"That little brat..." she sniffled, trying to hide her face. "Making us worry like this..."
"Boss, you're crying!" Dogra pointed out.
"SHUT UP! I'M NOT CRYING!" Dadan roared, but carefully folded the poster and tucked it away. "First Ace, now this troublemaker... They're both going to give me a heart attack!"
[The Baratie]
"Owner Zeff!" one of the cooks rushed into the kitchen, waving the poster. "Look who's made the bounty list!"
Zeff snatched the paper, his mustache twitching as he examined it. "So that's the captain that little eggplant chose to follow..."
"He's... smiling? In a wanted poster?"
"Hmph," Zeff crossed his arms, but there was a hint of approval in his expression. "At least that idiot Sanji picked an interesting one. Though with a bounty like that, they'll be having marines on their tail soon enough."
[Somewhere in the East Blue]
On the deck of a gaudy circus-themed ship, a commotion erupted as one of the crew members rushed to their captain with the newspaper.
"Captain Buggy! Captain Buggy!" The pirate waved the wanted poster frantically.
"What is it? Can't you see I'm busy planning our next flashy raid?" Buggy snapped, but his eyes caught sight of the familiar straw hat in the photo. His jaw dropped, literally detaching from his face in shock.
"THAT RUBBER BRAT?!" Buggy's face turned red with rage, his nose seeming to glow brighter. "55 MILLION BERRIES?! THAT'S MORE THAN MY BOUNTY!"
Alvida, who had been lounging nearby, slid gracefully across the deck to examine the poster. A small smile played on her lips as she studied the image.
"My, my... Monkey D. Luffy," she said, running a hand through her hair. "The first man to ever land a hit on me. I'm not surprised he's made such a name for himself."
"He's nothing but a lucky fool!" Buggy ranted, his body parts floating around in agitation. "First he humiliates me, and now this?!"
"He certainly is... interesting," Alvida mused, her expression intrigued rather than angry.
"INTERESTING?! I'll show him interesting! I'll get my revenge in the most flashy way possible!" Buggy declared, his crew cheering behind him.
"Captain Buggy is so cool!"
While Buggy continued his tirade about revenge, Alvida kept her eyes on the wanted poster, a mysterious smile on her face as she considered the young pirate who had caught her attention.
[The Red Force]
Shanks nearly spat out his drink when Benn Beckman handed him the poster. His laughter echoed across the deck, drawing the attention of his entire crew.
"Captain?" Yasopp raised an eyebrow, curious about what had caused such a reaction.
"Look at this kid!" Shanks held up the poster, still laughing. "His first bounty poster and he's throwing a party! And that hat..." His hand unconsciously touched where his arm missing, memories of a promise made years ago flooding back.
"55 million on his first go," Benn noted, lighting his cigarette. "Not bad for an East Blue rookie."
"That's my little anchor!" Shanks grinned proudly. "Lucky Roo! Break out the good sake! We're celebrating!"
[Marine Headquarters]
"Garp! Your grandson-" Sengoku started, holding the wanted poster with trembling hands.
"BWAHAHA! That's my boy!" Garp interrupted proudly, snatching the poster to get a better look. "Look at that! Already causing trouble for the Marines! He's got his grandfather's spirit!"
"THIS ISN'T SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF!" Sengoku roared, his afro seeming to puff up with anger. "Do you realize what this means? He's becoming a serious threat!"
"Oh right, I was supposed to pick up those two kids..." Garp suddenly remembered, completely ignoring Sengoku's concerns.
"THAT'S NOT THE ISSUE HERE!"
[Revolutionary Army HQ]
"Dragon-san," Koala handed him the newspaper, watching her leader's reaction carefully.
Dragon looked at his son's wanted poster, a rare smile forming on his usually stern face. His eyes lingered on the carefree expression, so different from his own serious demeanor.
"The wind of change is blowing stronger," he said cryptically, but there was no mistaking the pride in his voice. "Show them what it means to be free, Luffy."
[Shell Town]
At the Marine base in Shell Town, Koby, and Helmeppo were training under the watchful eye of their instructor when another Marine burst in with the newspaper.
"Look at this!" The Marine held up Luffy's wanted poster.
Koby's eyes widened, a proud smile spreading across his face. "Luffy-san..."
"that guy's... he's actually... incredibly strong," Helmeppo exclaimed, but there was more respect than bitterness in his voice.
"This means we need to train harder," Koby declared, gripping his practice sword tighter. "So we can be strong enough to face him as proper Marines someday!"
[Back on the Going Merry]
"According to my calculations," Nami announced, studying her maps, "we should reach Loguetown by tomorrow afternoon."
"Loguetown?" Usopp asked. "Isn't that..."
"The town of beginnings and endings," Luffy interrupted, his voice unusually serious. Everyone turned to look at him, surprised by his tone. "Where Gold Roger was born and executed."
"You seem to know a lot about it, Captain," Sanji observed, lighting a cigarette.
Luffy nodded, his expression thoughtful. "We need to be careful there. There's a Marine captain... Smokey... he's strong. And that woman with the sword..."
"Luffy?" Nami asked, concerned by his uncharacteristic planning.
"Shishishi! Don't worry!" His serious demeanor vanished instantly. "I have a plan!"
"YOU have a plan?!" The crew exclaimed in unison.
"Yep! First, we need lots of meat! Then-"
WHACK!
"That's not a plan!" Nami's fist connected with his rubber head.
"During their afternoon training session, something unexpected happened. As Luffy practiced his punches, a faint black sheen briefly covered his fist.
"Did you see that?" he exclaimed excitedly.
"Was that…" Zoro's eyes narrowed, studying Luffy's hand.
"Armament Haki!" Luffy tried to replicate it, but the coating disappeared almost immediately. "Aww, it's gone."
Meanwhile, Zoro had been focused intensely on his sword training. As he moved through his forms with Wado Ichimonji, something felt different. Each slash seemed to carry more weight than before, cutting through the air with unusual force. It wasn't the sudden, overt manifestation of Haki like Luffy experienced, but a subtle shift – a sharpening of his senses, a deeper connection to his blade. He felt a resonance, a heightened awareness of the very air itself, allowing him to cut with greater precision and power.
"The sword…" he muttered, feeling something different in Wado Ichimonji's blade. "It feels… stronger. Sharper. More… alive." He held the white blade up, studying it in the sunlight. He wasn't sure what it was, but he knew it was a significant development in his swordsmanship. It wasn't a full awakening, but a precursor, a hint of the power he would eventually wield.
Luffy, taking a break from his own training, watched with interest. "Zoro's getting it too," he grinned to himself, though he didn't understand the nuances of what Zoro was experiencing.
Zoro continued his practice, focusing on a series of precise cuts. Each strike seemed to leave a lingering presence in the air, like invisible extensions of his blade. It was clear his swordsmanship was evolving beyond mere physical technique. He was learning to imbue his strikes with a greater force, a power that wasn't just physical strength but something… more.
"This feeling…" Zoro smirked, remembering his battle with Mihawk. "This is just the beginning."
"That's great progress, you two!" Nami called from where she was studying navigation charts. "Just try not to sink the ship while training!"
[Shell Town - Later that day]
A massive shadow fell over the training yard. "BWAHAHA!" Recruits scattered as Vice Admiral Garp appeared, zeroing in on Koby like a missile. "You must be Koby!" "Y-yes sir!" Koby stood at attention, thinking, 'Luffy-san actually sent him!'
"And you are...?" Garp squinted at Helmeppo.
"Helmeppo, sir! Former Captain Morgan's son!"
"Morgan?" Garp's expression darkened. "Ah, the corrupt one who was arrested. Speaking of which..." He turned to address the base's current leadership. "I've heard some interesting reports about this base. Time for an inspection!"
The commanding officers paled visibly.
"But first..." Garp cracked his knuckles, grinning at Koby and Helmeppo. "Let's see if you two are worth training! FIST OF LOVE!"
Both boys barely managed to dodge the sudden attack, though their eyes widened in terror.
"Not bad reflexes!" Garp laughed. "Now, show me what my grandson saw in you two!"
What followed was a brutal "test" that left both boys battered but standing. Despite the pain, neither gave up.
"Well then!" Garp nodded approvingly. "You pass! Pack your things - you're coming with me for real Marine training! After I clean up this base's remaining corruption, of course."
As several nervous officers tried to slip away, Garp's hand shot out and grabbed them. "Going somewhere? We need to have a long chat about proper Marine conduct!
"Next stop, Cocoyashi Village Marine base in the East Blue," Garp announced on his ship.
"Sir?" Koby asked, still nursing his bruises from the 'test.'
"Got reports about Marine Captain Nezumi taking bribes from pirates." Garp's expression was stern. "Specifically from Arlong's crew. Though seems my grandson already took care of the fish-man."
Upon arriving at Cocoyashi Village, they found the local Marine base in disarray. Captain Nezumi was trying to restore order after his humiliating defeat.
"C-Commander Garp!" Nezumi stuttered, his whisker-like facial hair twitching nervously.
"BWAHAHA! Heard you've been taking bribes to ignore pirate activities!" Garp's cheerful tone carried an underlying threat. "That's not very Marine-like!"
"I-I can explain-"
"No need!" Garp's fist connected with Nezumi's head. "Consider yourself relieved of duty! We'll be doing a full investigation of this base."
The scene shows Garp cleaning up corruption throughout the East Blue, following in Luffy's wake but in his own way - through official Marine channels rather than pirate methods.
[Cocoyashi Village]
As Garp walked through the village, the locals initially tensed at seeing a Marine uniform, but their expressions changed when they saw Nezumi being dragged away in handcuffs.
Genzo, the village's mayor, approached cautiously. "Another Marine?"
"Vice Admiral Garp! BWAHAHA!" Garp grinned. "Heard my grandson helped you folks out with a fish problem!"
"Luffy is your grandson?" Nojiko, Nami's sister, stepped forward. "He freed our village from Arlong."
"While that Marine..." Genzo pointed at Nezumi, "took bribes and let our people suffer for years."
Garp's expression became serious. "On behalf of the Marines, I apologize. This isn't what we stand for." He bowed his head slightly. "We'll make sure to station honest Marines here from now on."
"Your grandson..." Nojiko smiled. "He's a good person. Even if he's a pirate."
"BWAHAHA! Don't remind me! That troublemaker chose the wrong path!" Garp laughed, but there was pride in his voice. "But at least he's helping people."
The villagers relaxed, seeing this very different kind of Marine. Before leaving, Garp made sure to establish proper Marine protection for the village and set up communication channels for them to report any future problems directly.
[Somewhere in East Blue]
The sun beat down on the small port town as Johnny and Yosaku faced off against the Sawfish Pirates, a crew of five with bounties ranging from 2 to 5 million berries. Their captain, "Sawblade" Pete, sneered at the two bounty hunters.
"You two think you can take our bounties?" Pete laughed, brandishing his serrated sword. "We've been terrorizing these waters for months!"
Johnny gripped his sword tighter. "Yosaku, just like we planned!"
The two bounty hunters charged forward, their coordination built from years of partnership showing as they engaged the pirates. But despite their teamwork, they found themselves struggling. Their attacks, while synchronized, lacked the power to decisively end the fight.
"This isn't working!" Yosaku shouted, barely blocking a strike from one of the pirates. "We need something more!"
The fight dragged on, their stamina draining. Finally, through sheer persistence and some lucky strikes, they managed to subdue the pirates, though both were left panting and covered in cuts.
As they tied up the defeated crew, Johnny spoke up. "Remember what Straw Hat-aniki told us about Haki?"
Yosaku nodded, wiping sweat from his brow. "Yeah. He said everyone has it, but it needs training."
"We barely won against these guys," Johnny said, looking at their captured bounties. "If we want to be real heroes and stronger bounty hunters, we need to start that training."
"But how?" Yosaku asked, remembering Luffy's words about Observation and Armament Haki.
Johnny stood up, determination in his eyes. "We start by keeping our promise to Luffy-aniki. These small fry bounties... they're just the beginning!"
After collecting their bounty at the local Marine base, Johnny and Yosaku found a quiet spot on the beach to begin their training, remembering Luffy's instructions.
"Alright," Johnny said, sitting cross-legged. "Luffy-aniki said people start with Observation. Blindfold training is one way - having someone throw things at you while you try to dodge."
Yosaku nodded, taking the same position. "And for Armament, we need to imagine our will as armor, focusing it into our weapons and body."
After several hours of training with little progress, Johnny and Yosaku sat down, exhausted and covered in bruises.
"Maybe we're approaching this wrong," Johnny said, remembering Luffy's words. "Luffy-aniki did say that real battle experience is the best way to awaken and develop Haki."
Yosaku nodded, rubbing a particularly sore spot. "Yeah, he mentioned that just meditation and practice isn't enough. We need to face real danger."
"But we can't just rush into dangerous situations unprepared," Johnny reasoned. "We should keep training while taking on progressively tougher bounties. That way, we'll grow stronger naturally while putting ourselves in real combat situations."
"Good thinking, bro! Let's check the bounty board tomorrow for someone challenging but not impossible."
They gathered their things, knowing that their path to Haki mastery would be longer and more difficult than a simple training montage. Real growth would come from pushing their limits in actual combat, just as Luffy had told them.
Johnny and Yosaku stood at the bounty board when a particular poster caught their eye.
"'Steel Fist' Marcus, former lieutenant of Don Krieg, now leading the Steel Pirates. Bounty: 8 million berries," Johnny read aloud.
Yosaku leaned in closer. "Says here he salvaged some of Krieg's weapons and joined forces with some other crews. Total crew bounty is around 15 million."
"After seeing Luffy-aniki take down Don Krieg himself, his former crew doesn't seem so scary anymore, right bro?" Johnny grinned.
"Yeah, but we shouldn't get cocky. These guys are still dangerous." Yosaku pointed to the report details. "They've been attacking villages along the coast, using modified versions of Krieg's poison gas weapons."
Just then, a fisherman burst into the bounty office. "The Steel Pirates! They've been spotted heading toward Shell Town!"
Johnny and Yosaku exchanged determined looks. This was their chance to prove themselves.
"Shell Town... that's only a few hours away by boat," Johnny said, already checking his sword.
"Those villagers won't stand a chance against poison gas," Yosaku added grimly. "We need to intercept them before they reach the town."
The bounty hunters rushed to their small ship, which they'd upgraded since their days with Zoro. It wasn't anything fancy, but it had a decent sail and some basic weapons.
As they set out, they could see dark clouds gathering on the horizon. Through their binoculars, they spotted a ship with steel-plated sides - definitely Krieg's influence.
"Look there!" Yosaku pointed at something concerning. "They've got those rotating shields mounted on their ship, just like Krieg's fleet used to have."
"But smaller," Johnny noted. "They probably couldn't salvage much after the Baratie battle."
They needed a plan. A frontal assault would be suicide against those defenses.
Lightning split the sky. Perfect cover.
"Now's our chance," Johnny whispered, rain pelting his cloak. "Next wave, we move."
Yosaku nodded, gripping his sword.
The rain started pouring as they maneuvered their small ship behind the Steel Pirates' vessel. The storm worked in their favor, masking both their approach and the sound of their grappling hooks.
As they climbed the rope in the driving rain, Johnny whispered, "Remember the intel - their gas weapons should be stored below deck. If we can sabotage those first..."
Suddenly, a bolt of lightning illuminated the deck. Through the rain, they could see two guards huddled under shelter near the cabin, but they hadn't spotted them yet.
The bounty hunters crouched low, water dripping from their cloaks as they assessed the situation.
"Just like old times, eh?" Johnny whispered, drawing his sword silently. "I'll take the one on the left."
Yosaku nodded, and they split up, using the rain and darkness as cover. The guards were more focused on staying dry than maintaining watch, huddled together under a makeshift shelter.
Johnny moved first, quick and quiet. His hand clamped over the first guard's mouth while Yosaku simultaneously subdued the other. Within seconds, both guards were unconscious and bound.
"We need to hide them," Yosaku said, already dragging one toward a nearby storage crate.
After concealing the guards, they found themselves near the cabin entrance. Through a window, they could see a dim light and hear muffled voices.
Johnny and Yosaku carefully pressed themselves against the cabin wall, just below the window. The rain helped mask any small sounds they made as they strained to listen.
Through the pounding of rain, they could make out fragments of conversation:
"...shipment leaves tomorrow at dawn..."
"...Boss won't be happy if we're delayed by this storm..."
"...those new gas weapons better work this time..."
Suddenly, a third voice joined in: "The guards should have reported in by now."
Johnny and Yosaku exchanged worried glances. Their window of opportunity was closing fast.
They need to act quickly.
Johnny and Yosaku flanked the cabin door, exchanging their familiar pre-fight glance. No words needed - they'd done this before. Three fingers up. Two. One.
They burst through the door simultaneously, weapons drawn. The cabin's warm light momentarily blinded them, but their training took over. Three surprised faces turned toward them – a tall man in an expensive coat, a scarred woman with twin pistols, and a nervous-looking younger man clutching a ledger.
"Nobody moves!" Johnny shouted, his sword gleaming in the lamplight.
The scarred woman was fastest, her hands dropping to her weapons, but Yosaku was ready. His thrown dagger pinned her sleeve to the wooden wall before she could draw, and Johnny closed the distance in two quick steps, pressing his blade against her throat.
"I wouldn't," he said quietly.
The tall man in the coat raised his hands slowly, but his eyes were calculating. "You're making a mistake," he said smoothly. "Whatever you're being paid, I can double it."
"Not interested," Yosaku replied, keeping his weapon trained on the nervous man with the ledger, who looked ready to faint. "We're here about the gas weapons."
The tall man's expression hardened. "Ah. Marine dogs, then?"
"Independent contractors," Johnny corrected. "The Marines just happened to make the best offer this time. Are those weapons you're planning to sell? They're not leaving this ship."
The nervous man suddenly dropped his ledger, papers scattering across the floor. In that split second of distraction, the tall man moved with surprising speed, drawing a hidden blade from his sleeve.
But Johnny and Yosaku weren't rookie bounty hunters anymore. They'd learned from every close call, every scar, every near-death experience. Before the man could complete his strike, Johnny had already pivoted, driving his elbow into the scarred woman's temple to take her out of the fight while simultaneously parrying the hidden blade.
Yosaku vaulted over the cabin's central table, tackling the nervous man before he could reach what was obviously an alarm bell mounted on the wall. They crashed into a stack of crates, sending maps and documents flying.
The tall man's swordwork forced Johnny back - until Johnny kicked the oil lamp over. In the sudden darkness, one clean punch ended the fight. The man staggered, and Johnny followed up with a precise strike to the temple with his sword's pommel. The tall man crumpled.
"Clear!" Johnny called out.
"Clear," Yosaku confirmed, having already subdued and bound the nervous man. "Found something interesting in these papers, too. Looks like we just stumbled onto something bigger than weapons smuggling."
The rain continued its steady pattern as they secured their prisoners. The scarred woman was already stirring, but the ropes would hold. Johnny gathered the scattered documents while Yosaku located the weapons cache – carefully sealed crates marked with warning symbols.
"Marine patrol should be here in twenty minutes," Yosaku said, checking his pocket watch. "Think we should tell them about this?" He held up a document that appeared to be encoded orders.
Johnny studied the paper for a moment, then grinned. "Let's hold onto that for now. Might be worth more than the bounty on these three."
They worked quickly to secure the scene, making sure none of their prisoners could reach any hidden weapons or signals. The storm was beginning to ease as they heard the distinctive sound of Marine vessels approaching.
"Another successful job," Johnny said, clapping his partner on the shoulder.
Yosaku nodded, but his expression was thoughtful. "You know this isn't over, right? Those coded orders... someone bigger is behind this operation."
"I know," Johnny replied, his grin turning predatory. "But that just means more work for us, doesn't it? Better pay, bigger adventures..."
"And more people trying to kill us," Yosaku added dryly.
"Would we have it any other way?"
As the Marine ships drew alongside, their searchlights cutting through the remaining rain, the two bounty hunters shared a knowing look. This job was ending, but another adventure was just beginning. The coded orders in Johnny's pocket would lead them to bigger fish, more dangerous waters, and probably more than a few life-or-death situations.
But that's exactly why they loved this life. Every job was a new story, every victory another legend in their growing reputation. And as the Marines began boarding the ship, Johnny and Yosaku were already planning their next move.
After all, in their line of work, the next big score was always just around the corner. And if that score happened to involve taking down some larger criminal enterprise? Well, that was just another day in the life of two of the seas' most determined bounty hunters.
The night's rain had washed away their tracks, but their legend would remain – two shadows in the storm, bringing justice to the lawless seas, one job at a time.
[In the grand line]
The darkness of night provided the perfect cover as Hachi, the six-armed former member of the Arlong Pirates, slipped away from the Marine custody. His wounds from the battle at Arlong Park were still fresh, but the chaos following their defeat had created an opportunity he couldn't ignore.
Unlike his former crewmates who were being transported to prison, Hachi managed to dive into the ocean during the transfer. His octopus fishman abilities allowed him to swim faster and deeper than any Marine could follow. The saltwater stung his injuries, but it was also oddly comforting – a reminder of home.
For days, he swam through the dark waters of the Grand Line, avoiding sea kings and marine patrols. His mind was heavy with thoughts of his past actions. The time with Arlong had shown him a path of hatred and violence, but deep down, Hachi knew that wasn't who he really was.
"Maybe," he thought while resting in an underwater cave, "it's time to be the person I was before all this."
As he approached Fishman Island, memories of his childhood flooded back. The colorful coral reefs, the floating bubbles, and the warm welcome of his people – it all seemed like a distant dream now. But the closer he got, the more his resolve strengthened.
However, upon reaching the outskirts of Fishman Island, Hachi hesitated. News of Arlong's defeat had surely reached here, and many might view him with suspicion or outright hostility. He was no longer the innocent young fishman who had left years ago.
Instead of entering the main city, Hachi found a quiet spot in the outer districts. There, he started small – helping local fishermen with their nets, assisting elderly fishfolk with heavy lifting, using his six arms for good rather than fighting.
Gradually, word spread about the helpful octopus Fishman who asked for nothing in return. Some recognized him from his Arlong Pirates days, but his genuine desire to make amends was clear in his actions.
One day, while helping a group of young fishman children untangle their toys from some seaweed, an elderly fishwoman approached him.
"You've changed, Hatchan," she said softly, using his full name. "Welcome home."
Those simple words broke something inside him. Tears mixed with the seawater around his face as he realized that redemption was possible, even for someone like him.
From that day forward, Hachi dedicated himself to serving his community. He eventually opened a small takoyaki stand, using his cooking skills to bring joy rather than his fighting abilities to cause pain. The irony of an octopus Fishman selling takoyaki wasn't lost on him, but it became his way of showing he had moved beyond his past.
While he could never fully erase his actions under Arlong, Hachi found peace in his new life. The children's laughter at his stand, the grateful smiles of his customers, and the simple pleasure of being useful to others – these became his new treasures.
Sometimes, late at night, he would look toward the surface world and think about his journey. From a pirate to a fugitive to a simple cook – it wasn't the path he'd expected, but it was one he was proud to walk.