In a bustling tavern, a small but undeniable problem had erupted.
During their meals, patrons were suddenly falling asleep.
One moment, a man raised a forkful of neatly cut meat; the next, his face plunged into his pilaf, and he began snoring, motionless in his seat. It was an bizarre occurrence.
The tavern's attention fixated on his back, where an astonishing emblem was emblazoned.
The mark of the great pirate Whitebeard.
A near-legendary symbol, rarely seen even on the Grand Line, now sat before them.
The onlookers whispered in hushed awe, unable to tear their eyes away from the man.
His appearance, his demeanor—everything about him felt eerily familiar. Was this some kind of poisoning? He was a notorious bounty head, after all. Yet, the truth was simpler: he was merely sleeping, snoring softly, not dead.
The abnormality of someone abruptly dozing off was troubling enough, but the real issue was who this man was. The tavern's unease showed no signs of settling.
Some onlookers, keeping their distance, gripped their weapons tightly.
A tense air crept through the room, and non-pirate patrons began to tremble with fear.
"That's… him, right?" one whispered.
"No doubt about it," another replied.
"Whitebeard's mark… first time I've seen the real thing."
"Why's he in the first half of the sea?"
"And just falling asleep like that?"
"If we took him out while he's sleeping—"
"Idiot, stop!"
A man clutching a spear tightened his grip, his knuckles whitening.
The target lay slumped over the table, defenseless. One thrust to the heart from behind—could he pull it off? The thought consumed him. Others tried to dissuade him, sensing his reckless intent, but he seemed lost in his own chaos.
Their warnings went unheard. The man stood, spear poised.
"If I take him down, I'll be a legend among pirates…" he muttered.
"Stop it! You'll never pull it off!" someone hissed.
"Even if you did, you know who'd come after you next, right?"
"Don't care. My crew's already been nabbed by the Marines—might as well be dead. If I'm going down, I want it to be big!"
"Hey, wait—"
"Let him go. His eyes are gone."
No one stopped him now.
The man crept toward the counter, spear trembling in his hands.
"Once I take you out, I'll be famous… That precious mark's wide open, Fire Fist Ace!"
He lunged, pouring every ounce of strength into the thrust. The sleeping figure didn't stir. The spear pierced his back, its tip embedding into the counter.
But then the man noticed something—the spear's shaft was burning.
Flames erupted, reducing the spear to ash in seconds.
"W-what the—?!" the man yelped, stumbling back onto his rear.
The onlookers leaned forward, transfixed.
This was the power of the Logia-type Flame-Flame Fruit.
A body that could become fire itself.
They'd heard rumors, but seeing it was something else entirely. The rare ability drew their fascination as the wound on his back vanished, enveloped in flames. The spear's remains were nothing but cinders.
This was no man who could be felled by ordinary weapons.
The figure stirred, lifting his head with a sly grin. He turned to the fallen man, eyes glinting.
"Give it up. You can't take me," he said.
The man stammered, frozen.
Ace raised his left hand, palm aimed at him. A burst of fire shot out, engulfing the man and hurling him through the tavern's wall. He crashed outside, rolling across the ground, writhing in pain as flames consumed him. His screams spoke of mortal danger.
At that moment, Luffy and his group arrived nearby, witnessing the spectacle. It was how they found the tavern.
"Hot! Hot, hot!" the man shrieked.
"Ouch, that guy's toast," Luffy said. "What happened?"
"Looks like trouble, no question," Kiri said. "No fighting before the tournament, okay?"
"I'll try," Luffy said.
"Really?" Kiri asked skeptically.
Ignoring the writhing man, Luffy and Kiri headed for the tavern, with Baby 5 clinging to Kiri's arm, gazing at him adoringly.
Inside, Luffy bolted for the counter. "Meat! Hey, old man, gimme a big pile of meat!"
"Y-yeah, got it," the stunned barkeep said, hurrying to prepare the order.
Beside Luffy sat a shirtless man in an orange ten-gallon hat. As Luffy finished ordering, he wiped his face with a damp cloth, and their eyes met.
"Hm?" Luffy said.
"Oh," the man replied.
They froze, staring.
Kiri, standing at the entrance, caught sight of them and looked just as shocked.
"Ace!" Luffy shouted, leaping up.
"Luffy! You actually showed up!" Ace said.
"Why're you here?!" Luffy asked.
Luffy gaped at the man—Fire Fist Ace, his sworn brother from childhood, a trusted figure. This wasn't awe for a celebrity but the joy of a long-awaited reunion. Both grinned ear to ear, reveling in the moment.
Ace had been searching for Luffy, it seemed.
The tavern erupted in murmurs louder than before.
"It's Straw Hat Luffy," voices whispered. The arrival of the rookie sensation, coupled with his chummy reunion with Fire Fist Ace, left the patrons stunned.
And it didn't stop there. Luffy waved at Kiri. "Kiri! Come here! This is my brother!"
"Your crewmate?" Ace asked.
The tavern shook with the sound of chairs toppling. Did he just call Ace his brother?
The patrons hit the floor, unable to look away from the trio. Paper-User Kiri joined the mix, making the scene almost too grand to process.
Kiri approached, unfazed by the chaos, though Baby 5, glued to his side, seemed oblivious to it all.
They reached the counter. Ace welcomed them warmly, and Luffy urged them to sit. Ace took his spot, Luffy beside him, Kiri next, and Baby 5 settled in close, naturally.
Ace likely assumed Baby 5 was part of Luffy's crew. His gaze was kind, unmistakably brotherly, ignoring the tavern's uproar as they began to talk.
Kiri had heard stories and believed them, but meeting a global legend like Ace in person was something else. Despite his calm smile, he felt a twinge of nerves.
This was a man with a bounty over 500 million berries, second-in-command of the Whitebeard Pirates, one of the world's most powerful crews. Even knowing he was Luffy's brother didn't make it easy to stay composed.
"This is my crewmate, Kiri," Luffy said. "And like I told you, this is my brother, Ace!"
"Hey," Kiri said.
"Thanks for looking after my little brother," Ace said. "He's a handful, huh?"
"No kidding," Kiri said. "But we're used to it."
"I've heard about you," Ace said. "Looks like Luffy found a solid crew."
"Shishishi!" Luffy laughed, beaming at the praise.
Eager to shift gears, Luffy turned to Ace. "So, why're you here?"
"Heard about this wild tournament," Ace said. "Figured you'd show up, so I waited."
"You came to see me?"
"Yup. Read that newspaper, too. Thought I'd check on you."
Ace matched Luffy's enthusiasm, their brotherly bond undeniable. Kiri stayed quiet, not wanting to interrupt, which gave him time to deal with Baby 5's clinginess. Meanwhile, the brothers kept talking.
Ace pulled a small, crumpled piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to Luffy, who looked puzzled.
"Here," Ace said. "I wanted to give you this."
"What? Paper?" Luffy asked, unfolding it.
"Keep it on you. Always."
Luffy stared at the plain scrap. "It's just paper."
"Yup. But it'll bring us together someday."
"Huh…"
"Don't want it?"
"Nah, I'll keep it," Luffy said.
Ace nodded, satisfied, and Luffy accepted it without question. He trusted his brother implicitly.
"So, you here for the Treasure Battle?" Luffy asked.
"That tournament? Nah," Ace said. "Got other business."
"Other business?"
"Looking for someone. A criminal."
Ace took a sip of water, his expression turning serious. "Calls himself Blackbeard now, but he was one of us—a Whitebeard Pirate, second division. My subordinate. He committed the worst crime on a pirate ship: he killed a crewmate and fled."
"Crewmate killer, huh?" Luffy said.
"I've gotta settle it," Ace said. "Otherwise, I wouldn't be backtracking through these seas."
His smile carried a hint of sadness, a flicker of tension. Luffy leaned in, grinning wider. "Then join us for the tournament! You came all this way!"
"Just told you, I'm in a hurry," Ace said.
"We have to win this thing," Luffy said. "After this, we're going to Alabasta to take down Crocodile!"
The tavern shook again, chairs and tables rattling as patrons hit the floor. Luffy's words were explosive.
He was challenging a Warlord of the Sea—one of only seven pirates recognized for their immense power. They were allies of the government, yet dangerous in their own right, part of one of the three great powers. Taking one on was unthinkable.
Even Ace raised an eyebrow, though he wasn't shocked. Knowing Luffy, he expected wild declarations. He stayed calm, curious. "Crocodile? A Warlord? Why him?"
"Kiri used to run with his crew," Luffy said. "Says we can't move forward without dealing with him, so I'm gonna take Crocodile down!"
"Oh?" Ace said.
"We're stuck without an Eternal Pose to Alabasta," Luffy said. "So we're gonna win this tournament to get one. With you, Ace, we'd win for sure!"
"Got it," Ace said.
Just then, the barkeep set a plate of thick steak in front of Luffy, who dug in gleefully. Ace glanced past him at Kiri, who sipped water quietly, a stark contrast to Luffy's chaos.
"Kiri, right?" Ace said. "Sorry, he's a lot to handle."
"Haha, yeah," Kiri said. "I'm used to it."
"No clue what happened, but Luffy's taken a shine to you," Ace said. "You must be helping him out a ton. Thanks. I owe you."
"Nah, it's nothing big," Kiri said.
"He's been a handful since we were kids," Ace said. "Good to know he's got solid crewmates."
Ace's smile was warm, catching Kiri off guard. The sincerity disarmed him, and his own smile faltered briefly, replaced by quiet surprise.
"Guess this is a good chance to see how strong you've gotten," Ace said to Luffy. "Since we're here, maybe I'll stick around a bit."
"Really, Ace?!" Luffy said.
"What about your business?" Kiri asked.
"No big deal," Ace said. "My little brother needs me. Gotta lend a hand."
Their brotherly bond was clear, stronger than it seemed from the outside. Kiri watched them laugh, a strange warmth settling in as he smiled again.
He turned to Baby 5, who leaned on his shoulder, her grin unwavering, arms locked around his. Why was she here? He knew she was a pirate, and he remembered her inexplicable affection from their last meeting. But seeing her again stirred a mix of emotions.
She fussed over him, eager to please. When a plate of pasta arrived, she twirled some onto a fork and held it to his mouth, beaming without a hint of shyness.
Kiri groaned, flustered. "Here, love, say 'ahh'~"
"I can eat myself," he said.
"Don't be shy!" she giggled.
"Aren't you the shy one here?"
"Not at all! I love you~♡"
"Maybe this is my fault…" Kiri muttered.
He vaguely recalled how this started, resigning himself to her antics. He took the bite, and Baby 5's face lit up, watching him chew like it was the greatest joy. It was awkward, but her sincerity made it hard to push her away. There was no malice, just pure devotion, which left him conflicted.
He knew who she was—a potential asset on their path to the Pirate King, but also a risk that could bring disaster to the crew. Should he keep her close or push her away? The calculation gnawed at him, shaped by his pragmatic upbringing.
For now, though, letting her feed him pasta was… convenient. Lazy by nature, Kiri kept eating, deciding overthinking was pointless.
The tournament was the priority—Alabasta, the showdown with his old crew. Winning was everything. Other concerns were just noise.
"Tasty?" Baby 5 asked.
"Yeah, not bad," Kiri said.
"Yay!" she chirped.
To an onlooker, they looked like a cozy couple. Did they realize it?
A loud voice blared through a megaphone outside, announcing the Treasure Battle's opening ceremony at the town's main square.
Luffy, cheeks stuffed with food, turned to Kiri, who met his gaze with a wry smile. "Mmph! Let'sh go! T'sh time!"
"Swallow first," Kiri said. "Opening ceremony's starting. Let's move."
"Treasure Battle, huh," Ace said. "Wonder what's in store."
Ace's stack of empty plates rivaled Luffy's—a pair of gluttonous brothers. Kiri sighed.
"By the way, Kiri," Ace said. "I'm a bit short on cash. Mind covering me?"
"Oh, that's what's up," Kiri said.
He'd thought Ace was more sensible than Luffy, but apparently not. Kiri sighed again but nodded, used to this from his captain.
"Fine," Kiri said. "If we're getting Fire Fist Ace's help, it's a small price."
"Appreciate it," Ace said. "I'll make it count in the tournament."
"Shishishi! Ace is great at dine-and-dashing!" Luffy said.
"Look who's talking," Ace shot back.
"You and Sabo taught me!" Luffy said.
"Still makes you an accomplice," Ace said. "And you're the one always begging for food. Sabo and I risked our necks for you."
"Did we?" Luffy asked.
"Ugh, you're hopeless," Ace said.
Ace grinned wryly, and Luffy laughed loudly. Kiri paid the bill, but Baby 5 piped up. "Wait, I'll cover it! I want to help you~"
"It's fine," Kiri said. "I planned for this. Even with Ace's share, it's less than usual."
"But…"
"I'll count on you for something else, okay?" Kiri said with a smile.
Baby 5 blushed, clinging to him tighter. "Okay~♡"
"Alright, let's go," Kiri said. "We need the tournament rules."
"Tournament time!" Luffy shouted.
"Luffy, don't get too excited," Ace said.
The four left the tavern, the patrons staring in silent awe. Their presence was commanding, exuding fearless confidence.
A formidable team had formed: Fire Fist Ace, with a bounty over 500 million; Straw Hat Luffy, the 30-million-berry rookie; Paper-User Kiri, tied to wild rumors; and the mysterious woman at his side.
Ace's participation alone skyrocketed the tournament's stakes.
Whispers spread: This tournament might become legendary.
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