The Going Merry rocked gently in the early morning tide. The sky was painted in soft hues of orange and blue, signaling the start of another adventure. But something was amiss. Nami wasn't on board.
Luffy blinked blearily from the deck, scratching his stomach. "Where's Nami?"
Zoro yawned. "Probably taking one of her walks."
But Usopp pointed toward the horizon. "Uh… that's her boat. She's sailing away!"
Sanji dropped the tray of breakfast, eyes wide. "NAMI-SWAAAAAN!!"
"Eh?" Luffy tilted his head.
Meanwhile, under the deck of Nami's small boat, Vihaan lay quietly between storage barrels, smirking. He had noticed her sneaking off at dawn and had hopped aboard without her knowledge. Ten minutes passed before Nami finally noticed something was wrong.
She paused, looking around as a faint shuffle echoed beneath the deck. Her eyes narrowed, and she opened the hatch.
Vihaan looked up, waving lazily. "Hey there, Navigator-san."
"YOU—!" Nami yelped, nearly tripping backward. "What the hell are you doing here?!"
"Stowing away. Seemed appropriate," Vihaan said with a grin. "Thought I'd tag along and find out what secrets you've been hiding."
Nami glared, crossing her arms. "Go back."
Vihaan remained seated, resting his elbows on his knees. "I will. But not until you tell me what's really going on."
"There's nothing to tell."
"Liar," Vihaan said plainly, his tone shifting.
Nami's expression hardened. "It's none of your business."
"I made it mine when you became our navigator."
Her lips quivered as her voice lowered. "You wouldn't understand."
Vihaan leaned forward, his tone gentler. "Try me."
She stayed quiet. The waves lapped against the hull.
Finally, she exhaled. "His name is Arlong. A fishman. A monster. He's taken over my village, my home. I'm collecting money to buy it back."
Vihaan nodded slowly. "And he's the reason you steal?"
"Yes."
Vihaan stood and walked past her onto the main deck. The breeze hit his face as he looked toward the sea. "So what if we took him down?"
She blinked. "What?"
"You heard me. What if we defeat Arlong?"
Nami stared at him, stunned.
"If we beat him," Vihaan continued, "will you come back? For real?"
She looked down, lips trembling. "…Yes."
Vihaan smiled. "Good. Then let's go back and make it happen."
Meanwhile on the Going Merry…
Zoro and Sanji stood at opposite ends of the ship's deck, bickering like old men.
"Why are your eyebrows curly?" Zoro asked, deadpan.
Sanji scoffed. "Why do you sleep standing up like a cow?"
Usopp, perched in the crow's nest, was sniping floating seaweed with his slingshot. "Guys, can't you just enjoy the morning?"
Luffy sat cross-legged on the deck, chewing on a bone. "This meat is so chewy. Where's Nami?"
"She LEFT, captain," Sanji said dramatically, arms raised.
Luffy blinked. "Huh. She should've said goodbye."
Back on Nami's Boat…
As the small boat neared the Going Merry, Nami pulled the sails down slowly.
"You really want to help me?" she asked, still a bit skeptical.
Vihaan looked up at the seagulls circling overhead. "We're not just a crew, Nami. We're family. And we don't leave family behind."
She turned to face him, eyes softening.
Vihaan grinned. "Now let's go ruin Arlong's day."
Suddenly, a ripple of light shimmered on the deck. Vihaan and Nami emerged from a mirror portal that faded behind them. The entire crew looked up, stunned.
"NAMI-SWAN!" Sanji cried, running toward her.
"Hey, we're back," Vihaan announced casually.
Nami took a deep breath and began explaining everything. From Arlong's takeover to her plan of buying back her village, the crew listened in silence.
After she finished, Luffy stood up, fists clenched. "That Arlong guy sounds like a fish-faced freaky freak."
Zoro raised a brow. "Fish-faced freaky freak?"
"Yup," Luffy nodded. "And we're gonna beat him up and take Nami back for real."
Nami's eyes watered, surprised by how easily they accepted her past and stood beside her.
A Day Later, On the Way to Cocoyasi Village…
The Going Merry cut through the sea at full sail, the crew's expressions serious and focused. They were nearing Nami's home. The atmosphere was thick with tension.
Suddenly, the ocean bubbled violently. From the depths burst forth a massive sea cow—Moo Moo, its nostrils flaring as it roared and charged the ship.
"Brace!" Usopp shrieked, gripping the railing.
But before panic could set in, Zoro unsheathed his swords. Vihaan snapped both wrists as mirror shards formed around his knuckles. Luffy stretched his arms back.
With seamless precision, Luffy grabbed Moo Moo's horns and yanked it off balance, spinning it. Zoro dashed along its flank, slashing twice with fluid motion. Vihaan teleported through two mirrors to appear above Moo Moo's head, slamming a mirrored burst into its skull.
The sea beast roared and toppled back into the ocean, defeated.
"That was…" Usopp blinked.
"Like they've fought together all their lives," Sanji muttered.
Luffy grinned at Zoro and Vihaan. "We're getting good at this!"
Vihaan smirked. "Told you guys—co-captains need to set the rhythm."
Zoro sheathed his swords and nodded. "Let's finish what we started."
Cocoyasi Village loomed ahead.
YOU GUYS MIGHT BE THINKING VIHAAN'S DEVIL FRUIT IS THAT OF BRULEE'S BUT THERE IS MORE TO IT , I WILL BE DISCUSSING THAT A HANDFUL CHAPTERS LATER , AND ALSO ABOUT SABO NOT BEING THERE,ITS BEEN COVERED IN A DIFFERENT CHAPTER , SEE YOU NEXT ON CHAPTER 20