"Hey everyone! ? Let's give a huge, thunderous wele to our Legend frandley mesidor! With them on board, our journey just got even more exg and fun!"

  ? These legends have taken the plunge, joined our exclusive crew, and are now getting all the extra perks and early access on this amazing journey!

  Who's ready to follow in his and many others' footsteps? ? Don't miss out—there's a whole world waiting for you too!

  ***********************************

  Luffy swirled the jui his gss, his lips curling into a sly smile as he spoke, his voice carrying a weight far beyond his youthful appearance.

  "Of course, you . If anyone aside from you and that guy with a ponytail had said that, I might have believed in your words. But you... please. A man with such immense Haki would never e to such a remote pce for no reason."

  The room froze. Shanks, who had been halfway to taking a sip of his sake, stopped dead in his tracks. His head soward Luffy, his eyes sharp and pierg.

  "Haki? Where did you hear that term?" Shanks asked, his voice low and serious.

  Luffy raised an eyebrow, unfazed by the sudden shift in atmosphere. Without a word, he extended his hand.

  In an instant, his entire arm was engulfed in a reddish-bck aura, crag with power. The sheer iy of the Armament Haki caused the air in the bar to grow heavy, as if the weight of a storm had desded upon them.

  The rea was immediate.

  "Ssss—!"

  The sound of sake being spat out echoed as the Red-Haired Pirates collectively lost their posure.

  "What the hell?!"

  "No way... this kid..."

  "Fuck! I just ot..."

  Sp

  Suddenly one of them spped the other and ughed.

  "Haha... there is no pai must be that I am dreaming."

  Even Uta, who had always been curious about her father's strength, was left speechless. She gawked at Luffy's arm, her usual fidence repced by disbelief.

  "This... this kid is my age! How is he doing that?" She murmured to herself, her gaze fixed on Luffy as though he were a living enigma.

  Shanks, for his part, remained silent, his eyes narrowing as he observed the boy's trol over Haki. The glow, the density, the sheer prese was beyond anything he'd expected, especially from a child.

  "Where did you learn that?" Shanks finally asked, his voice tight with curiosity and caution.

  Luffy smirked, retrag his Haki as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "Learn? No oaught me. I just... figured it out."

  Shanks' jaw ched. "Figured it out," he says. Like it's nothing... This kid's Haki isn't just strong; it's refined. No one 'figures out' Haki like that. Who is he really?

  Look at the glow and iy of his Haki. How such a kid have such dense and strong Haki? Iing... I have to make this kid bee a Pirate. In no way, he should join the side of the Wover...

  But outwardly, Shanks chuckled, masking his growing intrigue. "Luffy, what do you think about pirates?"

  Luffy tilted his head, his expression thoughtful. "Pirates? I think they're a bunch of bullies, mostly. They pi the weak because it's easy. If they're s, why don't they fight people on their level?"

  The bluntness of his words left Shanks momentarily stunned before he broke into a hearty ugh. "Dahaha! You've got a point, kid. But not all pirates are bad. There are good ooo, just like not every marine is as noble as yrandpa."

  Luffy frowned, sidering Shanks' words. "I guess you're right. Some people are just... rotten. It doesn't matter what side they're on."

  "Exactly!" Shanks spread his arms wide, his grin iious. "That's why being a pirate is about more than fighting or treasure. It's about freedom. Pirates are free, Luffy. We live life the ant, without aelling us otherwise."

  "Freedom..." Luffy repeated, his eyes narrowing as he mulled over the idea, pying along with Shanks.

  His grandfather's strict marine ideology had always felt suffog, and hearing Shanks talk about living without straints struck a chord in him.

  Makino, who had been quietly ing behind the ter, finally chimed in. She walked over, pg a gentle hand on Luffy's head. "Don't let yrandpa's dreams bee your burden, Luffy. You're still so young. You have time to figure out what you want."

  Her kind words eased the tension in Luffy's shoulders, and he grinned up at her. "Thanks, Makino."

  "Makino is right, Luffy. You are still young..." Shanks blinked for a moment, suddenly armed. "Did you just say you're six years old?"

  The entire room went silent. The pirates exged bewildered looks before erupting into chaos.

  "SIX?!"

  "No way!"

  "He's a literal toddler!"

  Even Uta's eyes widened in shock. "He's... youhan me? But how...?"

  Luffy grumbled in annoyance. "What the hell... Why are you shaking me so much? Yeah, I am six years old. Stop ag like you have discovered some sort of treasure."

  "Uh? Ah?..." Shanks had no idea how to react. He rubbed his head and said in disbelief. "You are only 6 years old a you have already mastered the Armament Haki."

  Luffy snorted and said. "Just say that I am a genius. Why so stingy!"

  "Genius? Dahahaha..." Shanks ughed happily alongside his crew members. He grabbed the hold of Luffy's shoulder and said. "You have surpassed that term. You are a full-fledged abomination. Dahaha..."

  Luffy rolled his eyes, muttering under his breath. "Whatever, old man."

  Feeling the room's energy was too much, Luffy slipped out of the bar, muttering something about fresh air. Uta, still reeling from everything she'd witnessed, hesitated for only a moment before running after him.

  "Luffy! Wait!"

  The boy stopped, turning to face her with a raised eyebrow. "Why are you following me? Do you need something?"

  Uta ched her fists, her face turning pink as she blurted out, "Let's be friends!"

  Luffy blinked, caught off guard by her suddeion. "...Okay. But why are you shouting?"

  Uta's blush deepened, and she shuffled her feet. "I-I just thought... you're cool, and... well, I don't have many friends."

  Luffy studied her for a moment before smiling. "Sure, we be friends. But you don't o yell about it."

  Uta's eyes sparkled, awin braids seemed to bouh excitement. She looked so thrilled that Luffy couldn't help but chuckle. Reag out, he patted her head.

  "You're kind of like a puppy," he teased.

  Uta's face turned an even deeper shade of red, her heart rag at his touch. Before she could stammer a reply, Luffy grabbed her hand and started walking.

  "e on," he said with a grin. "I'll show you around the vilge."

  Uta's shyness melted into joy as she followed him, her hand warm in his. For the first time in a long time, she felt genuinely happy. As Luffy led her through Foosha Vilge, pointing out his favorite spots and introdug her to the locals, Uta couldn't stop smiling.

  Luffy... He's not just strong. He's special.

  --- ? ? ? ---

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