As Kaito Sakamoto continued to spar with Ace, he gradually found himself at a disadvantage due to fatigue. He couldn't keep this up; using a moment of leverage, he retreated, transforming his long staff into a flintlock pistol.
Ace froze at the sight of the gun aimed at him.
"Hey, times have changed, man," Kaito declared, though he didn't really want to point a gun at Ace. If this continued, he would inevitably take a hit from Ace and then spend a month nursing his injuries.
"Phew, phew, phew!"
After stabilizing Ace, Kaito breathed heavily as he lowered the pistol.
"You win, Ace. Let's stop," he said, genuinely exhausted. "Just let it all end."
"By the way, what about that bracelet?"
Ace was tired too, but not as much as Kaito. Being a genius with keen observation skills, he had noticed the various weapons Kaito wielded were due to the bracelet on his wrist after seeing its transformations three times.
"Yes."
"...."
"Let's call it a draw for today."
"Though your stamina is lacking, it's still impressive for a girl," Ace replied coolly, slinging the hose over his shoulder.
Kaito was left with a head full of question marks. ???
"Who? Who's a girl??"
In his own world, Kaito was an orphan who had just turned eighteen and left the orphanage to work. To save money, he usually avoided haircuts, trimming it once every two years and letting it grow long. Now that he had traveled back in time to his childhood, his hair had not changed; he had it tied up in a ponytail, which was why Ace mistook him for a girl.
"I'm a boy," Kaito responded firmly.
"...."
"Wait!!!"
Realization dawned on Ace with a gasp.
"Then your stamina is really lacking!" Ace exclaimed, to which Kaito thought, well, that makes you pretty brave! No ordinary kid could compare to you!
"But your strength is good enough!"
"I acknowledge you."
"Feel free to follow if you want."
With that, Ace turned to continue his meeting with Sabo. Kaito glanced at Luffy and then followed him. Luffy quickly joined them.
However, the path was filled with fierce beasts and complex terrain, and Luffy soon fell behind. Watching his good friend being left behind, Luffy felt a bit dejected.
"Ahhh!"
"Kaito, I'll catch up to you and bring you back!"
Hearing Luffy's shout from behind, Kaito broke out in a sweat. It sounded like he was the kind of girl who runs off with a wealthy man because her boyfriend is broke.
"You go ahead, Ace."
"Hmm? Wait for that kid? If he can't even make it through the forest by himself, why should he follow me to the endpoint of uncertainty?" Ace scoffed, looking down on Luffy, whom he saw as a weakling.
"Ace, how long did it take you to cross the forest?"
Kaito put on a polite smile.
"One month."
"Alright then, how about we make a bet?"
"Let's bet whether Luffy can cross the forest in a month."
"If I lose, I'll give you this bracelet."
"If you lose, you just have to accept Luffy."
"What do you say? Are you up for it?"
Kaito held out the bracelet in front of Ace, proposing the wager. Ace had no idea that the bracelet couldn't be removed.
Ace glanced at the bracelet.
"Nothing to be afraid of!"
"It's a bet!"
"Hope you won't regret losing such a great weapon."
Kaito smiled as he retracted his hand. "Don't underestimate Luffy; he's a resilient kid."
"Then we'll meet at the endpoint of uncertainty in a month!"
Both Ace and Kaito were confident as they turned back to Luffy, ready to help him navigate the forest. Of course, Kaito wouldn't do anything to break the terms of their wager.
...
"Luffy!"
Just as Luffy was feeling lost and confused, Kaito returned.
Upon seeing Kaito, Luffy immediately brightened up.
"Ah! Kaito, I got lost!"
"I'm lost too, Luffy."
"Ace just dropped a comment saying that if we can cross the forest in a month, he'd try to be friends with us."
"We need to work hard!"
Kaito knew Luffy's personality; if he set a goal for him, Luffy would strive toward it, except when it came to the Marines.
"Really! Then we must do our best!"
"Let's go! We can't let Ace look down on us!"
Filled with energy, Luffy marched ahead, while Kaito followed with a smile. Kids would always be kids.
However, while the starting point felt safe and gave them confidence, the obstacles that followed gradually wore down their spirits.
A broken suspension bridge. Twisting and turning paths. Massive beasts.
Kaito had to mirror Luffy's physical strength throughout the journey, or they would surely be lost halfway.
...
And so the days and nights continued to change.
When Luffy and Kaito failed, they would return to Dadan's house, only to set out with Ace again the next morning.
It was the same routine every day.
Day by day, they unlocked new areas, returning each time with some injuries.
Finally, on the last day of their month-long wager, Luffy and Kaito successfully caught up to Ace and crossed the forest.
They arrived at a pristine land, known as the most beautiful kingdom in the East Sea, the dark side of Goa Kingdom, formed by heaps of garbage— the endpoint of uncertainty!