It was Luffy who blocked the projectile with his bare hand, standing in front of Usopp and Kaya. His face darkened into a grim expression few had ever seen before. For a moment, even the air around him seemed to still.
"Usopp… take Kaya and get her somewhere safe," Luffy muttered, his voice low but deadly. "This guy's mine."
"I object!" Nami snapped, immediately moving in front of Luffy. "Luffy! We agreed on a joint attack strategy! A proper ambush! Remember?"
But Luffy didn't even blink. His eyes remained fixed on Kuro, a pirate whose betrayal and cruelty had shaken the faith of an entire village—and hurt Usopp's heart the most.
"Then I'll go find a new fishing spot," Rokuro announced flatly, tossing the bucket over his shoulder and walking off. "This place is cursed anyway."
His sudden retreat made Nami twitch, but Rokuro didn't care. Even Garp couldn't stop Luffy once he made up his mind. He knew it.
Zoro, dusting off his swords, added lazily, "I've sharpened these blades all morning. Guess it's time I finally use them." He turned toward the village. "Afterward, I'll hit the tavern."
Kuro's eyes twitched with rage. "Are you mocking me?" he hissed, veins throbbing. "Has the sea forgotten who I am? I—Captain Kuro of the Black Cat Pirates—will not allow anyone to leave here alive!"
Without another word, Kuro lunged—not at Luffy, but straight toward Rokuro, who had turned his back.
"Rokuro!" Nami screamed as she turned toward the fleeing ninja.
But Rokuro kept walking, entirely calm.
Because he had something Kuro didn't: an unbreakable trust in his crew.
As expected, just before Kuro's claws reached him—
"Your opponent is me!"
Luffy appeared in front of Kuro in a flash and smashed his fist into Kuro's gut with a bone-crunching impact.
"If you want to hurt my friends," Luffy said coldly, "you'll have to kill me first."
As the two pirates began their furious clash—one relying on cunning speed and killer instinct, the other on overwhelming strength and willpower—three small boys burst into the clearing.
"Captain Usopp!" they cried in unison, panting. "We saw it! A pirate ship! With a cat face! It's on the north shore!"
Usopp's face drained of color. "A cat-faced ship… It's really them… Kuro's backup."
He looked around frantically. Zoro and Rokuro were gone. Only Nami stood by, arms crossed, glaring.
"Kaya!" he turned to the frightened girl. "You've got to hide! They're after you!"
He quickly barked orders. "Onionhead, take Nami and Kaya to our hideout. Secret Base #3. It's the safest spot!"
"WHAT?!" Nami snapped. "You want me to look after three brats and an heiress with asthma? One million Berries—minimum!"
"Ahh! Fine! Just go!" Usopp cried. "I'm rich in spirit!"
Kaya looked up at him, trembling. "Usopp… Are you really going to fight them?"
"Yes," Usopp said firmly. "I'm a brave warrior of the sea. I have to protect my village… and my honor!"
The only thing that betrayed him was his trembling knees.
Kaya's eyes filled with guilt. "Usopp… I'm sorry. I should have believed you."
"There's no time for apologies!" Usopp shouted, turning to leave. "I'll tell you the full story of 'Captain Usopp vs. 10 Billion Pirates' later!"
And with that, he disappeared into the trees.
"Let's go, old lady!" Onionhead called.
BAM! BAM! BAM!
"WHO ARE YOU CALLING OLD?! I'll knock you three to next week!" Nami shrieked, fists flying.
After punishing the kids, she picked up Kaya with a scowl. "Damn it, those two idiots really ditched us."
Meanwhile, on the north shore…
A slick man in a white coat and heart-shaped sunglasses stood at the bow of a sleek ship, surveying the coastline. His curled mustache twitched with nervous tension.
Vice-captain of the Black Cat Pirates: Zangao the Hypnotist.
"Move it!" he barked. "If we mess this up, Captain Kuro will skin us alive!"
The plan had changed without warning. The Straw Hats had accelerated everything.
Zangao mumbled to himself, "Maybe I should fake my death too… become a cruise singer or something. Does hypnosis work on talent agents?"
"Captain Zangao!" one of the crew shouted from the crow's nest. "There's a fisherman on the cliff! Should we take him out?"
"A fisherman?" Zangao frowned.
He raised a telescope and saw Rokuro nonchalantly grilling fish, a golden catfish glittering on a string nearby.
"…He hasn't even noticed us?"
Zangao narrowed his eyes. "Ignore him for now. We land quietly. Surprise is our edge."
But then he heard shouting from the lookout: "WOW! That catfish is legendary! It's said to only appear once a year!"
Rokuro, totally unaware, continued humming by his grill.
Golden catfish, crispy skin. His masterpiece.
"I name you Meowjin, second of the Golden Fish Collection. Don't worry, I won't eat you. Just hang out in the bucket."
He paused.
"Note to self: keep this one away from Nami. She'll auction him off."
Then—
A figure landed behind him with a thud. The sound of claws scraping the earth echoed like nails on stone.
"Give me that catfish," a raspy voice hissed.
A tall, thin man with long claws stepped into view.
Sam, one of the infamous Meowban Brothers. Known for his cruelty and 700 million bounty, his two obsessions were murder… and collecting rare fish.
"Nice setup you've got here," Sam said, grabbing a grilled mackerel. "Let's see…"
CRUNCH
"…Ugh! Tastes like rotten sea sponge!"
He tossed it into the sand.
Rokuro stared, livid. "You ate my fish. You ruined my catch. And now you want my prize?"
He slowly reached into his sleeve and pulled out the Supreme Fast Rod™.
"You've broken all three of the Fisherman's Sacred Laws," he growled. "Prepare to face the wrath of a hobbyist!"
Sam cackled. "What are you gonna do? Pole-dance me to death?"
Suddenly Sam vanished—his claw aimed right at Rokuro's chest.
"You're dead, rod-boy!"
But when the claws struck—BAM!
Only a tree stump remained where Rokuro had been standing.
Sam froze.
"…Nani?! Where did he—?"
A whisper echoed from the trees behind him.
"You messed with the wrong fisherman."