It's a well-known fact, acknowledged by all, that Usopp is a coward. But that doesn't mean he's weak. He's timid, not foolish.
Knowing he's Chu's target, his legs tremble, yet he doesn't flee. He understands that running would shift Chu's focus to the villagers. Despite his fear, Usopp has grit.
Mustering all his bravado, he faces Chu, his expression strained, face pale, no trace of ease. The chance to escape has long passed; his crewmates show no sign of intervening. He's been left to handle this alone. To onlookers, he might seem brave, but inside, he's a storm of panic.
(I'm screwed… completely targeted!)
His forte is sniping—supporting from a safe distance. That's his claim, at least. He's not the type to lead the charge or face an officer one-on-one. The thought of it makes him want to scream, I'll die! But with the villagers watching, he knows he must draw Chu's attention to protect them.
Sailing with the Straw Hats, he's heard of the Piece Main pirates from Luffy and Silk—noble pirates who don't attack the defenseless, cherishing freedom and adventure. Though the world may call them selfish or evil, they'd never harm helpless townsfolk. Usopp admires such proud pirates, believing his father is one. Abandoning Cocoyasi's people would betray that ideal. That conviction pins his feet in place.
Still, he hasn't conquered his fear, hoping for a miracle to save him—a classic Usopp trait, for better or worse.
"Damn it… this wasn't the plan. Why target me when Kiri and Zoro are right there? Am I… gonna die?" he mutters.
"What's that muttering?" Chu snaps.
"Huh?!" Usopp jumps, startled by Chu's voice. The man who'd been shouting boldly moments ago now seems oddly timid. Chu's brow furrows, sensing something off.
This guy feels weak. Chu's initial doubts grow stronger. Usopp's shifting demeanor and fearful attitude suggest he's no threat. Yet, why challenge him if he's so weak? He doesn't seem foolish enough to misjudge their gap in strength. His trembling proves he knows he can't win.
Facing this strange human, Chu hesitates. His restraint stems from experience as a pirate—countless battles taught him that acting rashly is foolish. Usopp might be feigning weakness, hiding a strategy. Though Chu doubts a human could outsmart a fishman, caution prevails.
Waiting to gauge Usopp's intent, Chu notices he doesn't move. Doubt deepens, turning their standoff into a test of patience. Whoever acts first might win—or lose. The tense silence confuses Chu, contrary to Usopp's hopes, creating a chaotic atmosphere. Both sink into overthinking, wariness growing.
They lock eyes, each waiting for the other to flinch.
(But he's smaller than the others. Doesn't look strong, and that Gunpowder Star hit him hard. If I can hide and snipe…) Usopp glances at the nearby forest, surrounded by rice paddies and thick trees—perfect cover. If he can slip away, he might find an opening. Calming himself, he realizes he's not doomed.
(He shot an explosive pellet earlier. Took some damage—multiple hits would be bad. He's a sniper, and his build screams no close combat experience. I'm the better sniper. No need for a shootout—get close and finish him, Chu thinks, analyzing Usopp's weapon and behavior. A fishman's strength makes crushing a human in close quarters easy. One opening is all he needs. Hiding his confidence, Chu feels victory assured.
The question is when to move. Chu brims with confidence, but Usopp lacks it, hesitating. His heartbeat pounds, sweat dripping down his cheek in the eerie silence.
A sudden roar shakes the ground—Kiri's impact from dropping Kurura. Both Chu and Usopp react instantly, moving on instinct. Usopp loads his slingshot, but Chu, lips pursed, arches back and fires first.
"Water Pistol!" Chu shouts.
"Ugh?!" Usopp cries.
In a split second, Chu wins. A bullet-like stream of water pierces Usopp's side, blood spraying. The pain is excruciating. Dropping his pellet, Usopp collapses slowly.
The villagers gasp. Hope fades; the loss stings. Some clench fists, urging him on.
Usopp catches himself before falling, forcing his eyes open despite the pain. Chu is already upon him, fist swinging, smashing Usopp's face. His body bounces off the ground, blood spurting, consciousness fading.
The gap is overwhelming—fishman versus human. Chu sneers down at Usopp's crumpled form. "Pathetic. Just bravado, huh? Pitiful," he says, smacking his lips. "I'll give you credit for not dying yet. But it's over."
Chu approaches leisurely, raising his fist. No need for his Water Pistol—his strength is enough. He looms over Usopp, smug.
Usopp's goggles are intact. Through them, he glares at Chu, teeth grinding, his mindset shifting. Pathetic. That's all he thinks of himself. He saw Kiri fight for his life, begged Daddy for training to grow stronger, yet he's always running, choosing avoidance. Nothing's changed. A brave sea warrior wouldn't act like this. Images flash—Kiri, bloodied and fallen; his father's face from childhood.
He left to become a pirate. To return to Syrup Village with true tales of adventure, chest puffed with pride. Now's the time to change. No more playing pirate—he's a real one now.
Glaring at Chu, Usopp forces out words. "Heh… I left my village to become a brave sea warrior. I can't die here… If I can't beat you, I don't deserve to sail with them!"
"What, fear drive you mad? Laughing now?" Chu says.
"Cough, hack! Listen, fish freak… you'll regret making me serious. You woke a sleeping lion!" Usopp says.
"Don't call me 'fish' again," Chu growls.
Instead of punching, Chu kicks Usopp's waist, sending him tumbling, pain surging. Blood trickles from a cut forehead. Chu approaches slowly, voice cold. "We fishmen are the supreme race. Not just fish, not mere humans. The greatest race. Remember that. And you'll die by our wrath."
"Haa… I'm too scared to die!" Usopp says.
"Then you shouldn't be here. Dumb enough to stun me," Chu says, smacking his lips.
"I'm here to not die! I won't let you kill me or the villagers. Even if you stole the Merry and ran—" Usopp starts.
"Enough," Chu cuts in.
Chu quickens his pace, kicking Usopp's stomach. Blood surges, and Usopp spits it out midair, crashing face-first, motionless.
Everyone thinks it's over. Chu turns, eyeing other foes. But Kiri, Zoro, and Nami haven't given up, watching Usopp. "Tch, he's down. More work for me. Two left, then the runaway," Chu says.
"Wait," a voice rasps.
Chu turns, brow twitching. Usopp, prone, props himself up, glaring. "I'm your opponent!" he shouts.
Chu's anger reignites. A weakling with a big mouth, too stubborn to die quietly. Not worth his time, but Chu decides to end him properly.
As Chu approaches, Usopp swiftly aims his slingshot and fires. "Special Attack: Lead Star!" he shouts.
"Ugh?!" Chu grunts. The pellet hits his shin, a sensitive spot for fishman or human, twisting his expression. Chu stumbles, and Usopp springs up, pulling a new weapon from his bag and thrusting it at Chu. "Can you handle this?! Usopp Rubber Band!" he yells.
"What?!" Chu gasps.
Usopp hooks a rubber band on his thumb, pulling it back. It seems childish, but Chu instinctively tenses, closing his eyes. Usopp seizes the moment, grabbing a hammer with both hands and swinging it in close combat—a style he dreads. "Usopp Hammer!" he shouts.
"Guh?!" Chu cries as the hammer smashes his jaw, lifting him slightly before he crashes, hitting his head. The critical hit staggers him. Clutching his jaw and head, Chu rolls, losing composure, looking like a desperate child.
"Damn it! I thought a rubber band was coming! You human!" Chu roars.
Wincing, Chu rises, but Usopp's gone. "Where'd you go, coward?! You didn't run!" Chu shouts, scanning frantically.
A voice answers from the forest, bold and gleeful. "Hahaha! See that, fish freak?! You fell for the rubber band trick, idiot! I'm a lying pirate!" Usopp taunts.
"Tch, in the forest!" Chu growls.
"Don't like 'fish'? I'll say it again! Fish! Fish freak!" Usopp chants, goading Chu while feigning confidence with laughter. Chu's face darkens, rage consuming him, unsure if it's Usopp's strategy.
Usopp's voice persists, wielding lies, sniping, speed, and diverse weapons. With resolve, Chu's no threat. Lying to himself, Usopp's confidence grows. "Remember my name! I'm Captain Usopp, first mate to Great Boss Luffy, with eight thousand men! No fishman gang can beat me! Run now, fish freak—I won't let you!" he shouts.
"There you are! Water Pistol!" Chu fires, pinpointing Usopp's voice. The shot misses, piercing a tree trunk, only startling Usopp.
Caught, Usopp bolts, revealing himself. Chu, no fool, spots him, grinning. "There you are," Chu says.
"Gah! Spotted!" Usopp yelps.
"I'll kill you!" Chu roars.
"Wait, wait! I got carried away! We can talk!" Usopp pleads.
"No talking! You're dead!" Chu screams, charging blindly into the dark forest, driven by rage, forsaking caution.
Usopp shrieks, tears welling. "Stop! Don't come in!" he yells.
"Fool! You got cocky, small fry! Die regretting it!" Chu shouts.
"Stop—psych!" Usopp says, his expression shifting to a grin.
As Chu crashes through the brush, pain stabs his right foot. His face twists. Stepping on caltrops, he instinctively jumps, but lands on more with his left, screaming. "Ouch!" he cries.
"Idiot! It's a caltrop hell!" Usopp taunts.
Chu hops, yanking caltrops from his sandals, looking foolish. Seizing the gap, Usopp loads his slingshot and fires. "Special Attack: Tabasco Star!" he shouts.
The pellet hits Chu's protruding lips, dissolving in his mouth. The searing spice overwhelms him, drowning out foot pain. "Hot!" Chu screams.
"I know I'm weak best!" Usopp says, firing again. "Special Attack: Gunpowder Star!"
The pellet hits Chu's face, exploding. He collapses into the caltrops, pain compounding, rolling in agony. Strength isn't needed, Usopp thinks. A sniper's role is support, pushing his crew forward. His mentor's words linger—he doesn't need the spotlight, just to sail with his noble crew.
Glaring at Chu, Usopp speaks. "Pirates don't care about justice or evil. This is my fight. I'll use any dirty trick to win for my crew!" he declares.
"Don't mess with me!" Chu roars, rising, lips swollen, hair singed, but charging with fierce resolve.
Usopp screams, "Wait! I surrender!" then grins. "As if! Special Oil Ball!" He throws a palm-sized orb, bursting oil over Chu, who flinches.
Usopp stands firm, certain of victory. Chu slips on the spilled oil, crashing, hitting his head again. "Oil burns well, you know!" Usopp says.
Chu, clutching his head, pales, realizing the danger. He scrambles but slips, unable to escape. Usopp loads another pellet, resolve set. No more playing pirate—he's real. "Special Attack: Flame Star!" he shouts.
The fireball hits, igniting the oil. Chu, engulfed, screams, sprinting toward the rice paddies to douse the flames. "Water!" he yells.
"Damn, the paddies!" Usopp curses, chasing him.
He stops, pulling a pistol from his bag—a long-barreled gift from Daddy, designed for sniping. He's never fired it, but now's the test. "Long Barrel… let's see its power!" he says, kneeling, aiming with both hands.
Chu's fast, nearing the paddies. No time to hesitate—this is Usopp's last shot. Aligning the sights instantly, he fires. The bullet streaks through the night.
Chu, focused on the water, doesn't hear the shot or dodge. The bullet pierces his left thigh, blood spraying, staggering him. Still, he rolls toward the paddies, diving in with a splash, extinguishing the flames. His burns are severe, hair charred, skin ruined, but he floats, motionless.
As clarity returns, rage burns hotter. He rises, vowing to kill Usopp. "I'll never forgive you!" he growls, turning.
Too late. Usopp charges, hammer raised, leaping into the paddies. Chu's eyes widen, no time to scream. The hammer swings full force. "Usopp Hammer!" Usopp roars.
"Buah?!" Chu cries, water erupting as he's knocked back.
Usopp lands, rolling, but rises faster than Chu, who's barely conscious. He doesn't stop, hammering Chu's head repeatedly. "Usopp Hammer! Hammer! Hammer! Rubber Band—Usopp Hammer!" he shouts, landing blows until lumps cover Chu's head.
Chu sinks, crying over his disgrace, unconscious. Usopp stands, fists raised. "I… won…" he gasps.
He can't believe it, but it's his victory. Glancing at his crew, Kiri flashes a thumbs-up, beaming; Zoro nods, smirking. The villagers erupt in cheers. A fishman officer defeated! Their joy washes over Usopp, who grins like a child.
"Usopp's brother did it!" Yosaku shouts.
"You're amazing, brother! Training paid off!" Johnny says.
"Unbelievable… this day came…" Genzo mutters.
"They're incredible. They might really beat Arlong," Nojiko says.
The villagers' hope surges, their cheers transforming the atmosphere. Usopp, basking in praise, trembles with relief, his battle done. Fear catches up; his knees shake in the paddies, barely standing. He grips them, muttering, "Heh… warrior's tremble… I beat an officer…"
Stumbling to the path, he collapses, breathing ragged, body shaking with joy and terror. Unable to resist, he lies spread-eagled, staring at the sky, shouting, "Oi, Nami! Did you see that?!"
He calls to the one who feared them most, voice brimming with pride. "I can do it! You saw, you jerk! Don't underestimate me!" he yells.
Nami, hearing him, laughs, nearly crying, pulling her straw hat low to hide her face. She'd forgiven the Merry incident, deciding to fight for her crew. Usopp's sniping was for his crew, for her. Staying to fight was worth it, he now knows.
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