"Wait up, Zoro! Hold it!"
"Hurry."
"Not that—why you leading? Direction-dumb swordsman? Disaster!"
"Who you callin' direction-dumb?!"
Zoro and Usopp yelled mid-sprint, fresh off the island landing, blasting through woods into rocky badlands.
Uneven footing, open sightlines—prime ambush turf. Usopp sweated paranoia; worse, Zoro upfront. Recipe for doom.
Usopp clawed to halt him—success.
Foes dotted the horizon. Strike-any-second vibes amped dread.
"This whole thing's insane from jump. No clue where treasure's at—start gun, total chaos. We survivin'?"
"Duh. Hunt chests or bust."
"Know that, but—"
"No time for 'direction' whining. Run, find one."
"Sounds dumb as bricks."
"Your plan?"
"Hole up safe, hide—"
"Move."
"At least react!"
Zoro spearheaded again; duo bolted.
Pirates tunnel-visioned hunts—no side-eye. Rookies barely buzzed; beneath notice. Boring for Zoro, blessing for Usopp.
Short trek later: broad river.
Zoro plunged in, momentum unbroken; Usopp grimaced.
Shallow, but boots—and feet—sodden.
Wide span—20m? Gentle slope, downhill flow from peaks.
Usopp waded, cursing the grind inwardly.
"Ocean's one thing—rivers? Ages. Huge island... chests ain't falling easy. Wonder 'bout Luffy's crew."
"Beats me."
"Kiri'd clutch, but you here..."
"Wanna get slashed?"
Zoro half-turned, annoyed—but play. Usopp shrugged it off.
Mid-river: Usopp froze.
"H-Hey, Zoro."
"What?"
Voice cued Zoro—upstream vibe hit.
Unseen foe: mid-river, hostility locked.
Familiar faces—Usopp especially chilled.
Left: Captain Kuro—old grudge, past rematch. Skin-crawl every time.
Beside: Don Krieg, smirking.
Crew statuses? Known.
Instant guard-up: weapons drawn.
No way they ghost now.
Paranoia sharpened reactions—ambush foiled. Kuro and Krieg armed too.
"Killing's DQ, right?"
"Yup. Marines if caught."
"We're pirates. Comers get crushed."
"Rules? Flexible. Plan's on."
"Whoa—serious?! Fight here?!"
"Called it. Ready, Usopp?"
"Nope! Zero ready!"
"Then let's go."
"Listen, damnit!"
Zoro fluid-drew, dual-grip; frantic Usopp yanked slingshot from bag.
Kuro: cat-claws gloved. Krieg: Battle Spear whirled wild.
Both primed.
Off-script from chests—but clash inevitable.
"Why us..."
"Buck up. This? Peanuts vs. our runs."
"Bull! Never this bad!"
"Left's yours—know his bag now."
"S-Serious...? Shit, no choice."
"Can't beat these? No future. Baroque Works next anyway."
"Ugh, depressing."
Chat mid-river: Kuro crouched.
Incoming—vanished, wind gust.
Usopp gawked; Zoro scowled, snagged Usopp's collar, yanked aside.
"Usopp!"
"Whoa?!"
Pull timed perfect—gust grazed cheek, blood speck. Eyes back: Kuro.
Silent speed—"Silent Step." Still lightning.
Spooked Usopp yelped; Zoro released—he stumbled, righted, whirled. Zoro faced Krieg.
"Nice dodge. But you stop me? Usopp-kun."
"D-Damn. Ain't same old me!"
"That side's yours."
"Hmph. Two brats? Pathetic. Squash 'em."
Kuro's leer goaded; Usopp hardened resolve.
Zoro felt shift, grinned feral—charged Krieg, back ignored.
Usopp deep-breathed solo.
Win alone?
Syrup Village: Silk downed him. Loguetown: fled. Changes? No ironclad solo confidence.
But must.
Can't sail if can't.
Left: slingshot. Right: ammo grip.
No retreat—even losing.
Kuro snorted at steely gaze.
"Different, maybe. But you think win?"
"I changed. Real pirate now!"
"Volume ain't piracy. Real? Lesson time..."
Kuro twitched—Usopp sensed, slingshot up.
"Quit lecturing from coward who bailed! Ultimate: Smoke Star!"
Aimed feet—impact: wide smoke bloom.
Kuro twitched brow.
Lost sight + taunt? Mild shift admitted—not "stronger." Still underestimated.
"Hide in fog? Futile."
Silent Step—vanished into haze, Usopp's spot zeroed.
Charge bold—no foe hit, just smoke swirl.
Kuro halted, stunned—scanned.
Brake-stomp: wrong.
Spike pierced boot-sole, agony.
Shift foot? Everywhere pain—stabs.
Toppled—back speared too. Rolled frantic, splashing retreat—realized: caltrops strewn.
River churned.
Kuro knew upfront no-win. His style? Nah.
Victory craved—lured, trapped, spiked.
Hidden in smoke, eyes glued to thrashing Kuro.
"Gah...?! Dirty trick—!"
"Ultimate: Triple Powder Star!"
Three near-simul shots—prone Kuro, no dodge.
Direct: face, chest, leg—blasts.
Solid wallop. Caltrops forgotten—vision blurred.
Mini-explosives: pain brutal.
Usopp pounced—slingshot away, hammer out.
Kuro staggered up—
"Uso~pp...!"
"Gah, w-wait—?!"
"Hammer!!"
Leap-smash: rear skull. Face-planted; powder + hit = blackout.
Skill gap? Surprise + vitals = no tank.
Kuro: no brawler build. Leg-power ace; slim frame? Fragile flaw.
"Dirty"? Sure. But win.
Pirate code: results.
Knees buckled—victory sank in.
Grudge foe down. Unreal—out cold, water-limp.
Stared; joy surged—Usopp whooped, arms high.
"Y-Y-Yes! Won! Captain Kuro—easy...!"
Euphoria high, whirled to brag—
"Hah hah ha! See that, Zoro? Solo'd the—"
"Nngh!"
Krieg's spear cratered ground—explosion splashed.
Zoro backflipped distance.
Usopp gulped awe; Zoro landed, tongue-click irritated.
"Tch. Can't cut that armor..."
"Fool. Wootz steel. Your toys bounce."
"Arm's short still. Can't cleave this junk."
"Big mouth."
"Alright Zoro—cover me! You front! Keep 'em off!"
"Got it, Captain."
Shoulder-to-shoulder vs. Krieg.
Wootz armor, trick blades galore. Loose? Kuro nastier—but river pinned? Krieg nightmare.
Zoro regripped, scowl hid; Usopp beamed, slingshot ready.
Then—
Upstream: chest floated.
Mild surprise. Then—
Splash frenzy: hulking figure chased, desperate mug.
"Ukki~!"
"Wh-What the hell?!"
Brute fixated chest—barreled blind.
Chest neared Krieg; zero notice.
Usopp jaw-drop; Zoro-Krieg blank-stared.
Brute clocked Krieg—bellowed:
"Agh! Move it! Outta way!"
"What?! Who you mouthin'—"
"My treasure! MOVE!"
Chest at feet: brute leaped. Arm cocked—blitz punch, too swift for Krieg.
Fist cratered cheek; titan spun airborne, crashed dirt—still.
Brute righted, scooped for chest.
Screaming Usopp aside, Zoro cool-eyed—chest drifted his way.
Snagged pre-reach; brute whiffed, tumbled past—skipping fish-like, splashes trailing.
Duo gawked after.
"What is that?"
"Huge. Monkey face."
"WHAT?! Who called me monkey?!"
"Gyaah?! He's killin' us?!"
Sopping rise—rage-face, spun on them.
Usopp flinched—then brute... beamed? Blushed?
"Hey, c'mon—that monkeyish?"
"Huh?"
"Guy's nuts."
"Ukkikiki! Ease up praisin'! Even if I am monkey-born!"
No praise meant.
Duo synced WTF?—eyed each other.
"What situation?"
"Dunno, but we fans? Monkey-born what?"
"Beats me. Face is monkey, tho."
"Quit praisin'! Ain't that monkey-born!"
"So what is monkey-born?"
Brute: ape-gorilla build, thick arms, brow shades, ear cans. Yellow overalls, tail-thing.
Monkey vibes.
"Monkey"? Compliment—lit him up.
Usopp pinged—halted annoyed Zoro, stepped up.
"Quick check... why so monkey-born?"
"H-Hey, stop! Ain't monkey-born!"
"Nah, first this monkey-born guy. You're a star."
"Ukkikiki! Idiot! Don't hype that hard!"
"You are monkey."
Zoro deadpan; brute flexed biceps wild.
"I'm 'Salvage King' Masira! Fan? Can't snatch chest! Yours—keep!"
"Who fan..."
"Haa~! Thanks, Masira-sama. Spread your monkey-born glory. Debt eternal."
"Ukkikiki!"
Usopp bowed grand; Masira grinned toothy, thrilled.
Posed varied, gave chest—no snatch—sauntered off.
"Gotta hunt another."
"Thanks much! Keep rockin'!"
"Catch ya. Busy now—autographs later."
Teeth flashed; Masira kicked—sky-high leap.
River-to-tree snag, branch-vine swing—猿 blur, distant fast.
Howls faded; duo muttered oddball faces.
"Monkey."
"Yup. Monkey."
Usopp's quick wits: chest secured.
Flattery dodged fight, saved juice. Grin bloomed.
"Anyway—treasure got. Guard = round clear."
"Won't be that smooth."
"Then hide quick! Island huge—spots galore."
"Doubt it."
Zoro clutched chest, glanced aside.
Usopp followed: pirate pack targeted them—chest obvious.
"There—chest!"
"Hand it over!"
"Gehh?! Stay back!"
"Vast island, ton o' crews. Foes everywhere."
"No chill—run, Zoro!"
"Aye aye, Captain."
Splashed sprint—Usopp led, river exit.
Horde trailed. Caught? Brawl.
Usopp panicked; Zoro grinned bloodthirsty—craved it.
Sudden toss: chest to Usopp.
"Hold this."
"Wha—don't chuck!"
"I mulch 'em. Guard duty yours."
"Go get 'em! Treasure's safe—blew Kuro away too!"
Zoro braked hard—U-turned into pack.
Usopp peeled off, halted—spectated wary.
Clutched chest, eyes locked: just in case.
Zoro? Beast mode.
Solo vs. mob: slashed, batted—raw power.
Flaw: navigation. But pair-up? Gold.
That strength? Champs possible.
Usopp's solo-Kuro win? Hype built—thrilled.
No friendly fire? They'd win. Morale maxed.
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