Chapter 3 – The Smile Pirates Are Born
"Damn… how is this possible?!"
Bartlu's pupils dilated in shock. His jaw hung open as he watched his crew get wiped out in the blink of an eye.
He had sailed the East Blue for years. Never—never—had he seen someone this strong.
But instead of fear, a new idea took root in his mind.
"Kid!" Bartlu shouted suddenly, spreading his arms wide. "You've got real talent. Join the Kongo Pirates! Together, we'll rule the East Blue. Berries, women—whatever you want will be yours!"
He grinned toothily, convinced that with someone like Ash under his flag, the seas would be his.
But Ash just frowned and looked down on him like an ant.
"Not interested. Tuan Tuan, beat him up."
"Gladly, Boss!" Tuan Tuan cracked his knuckles with glee. The small panda-like creature stepped forward, eyes gleaming.
Bartlu hesitated. Something about this black-and-white ball of fluff felt... wrong. Sensing danger, he roared and transformed.
His body expanded, bursting through his shirt, revealing a full chimpanzee Zoan form—over three meters tall, with bulging muscle and beastly rage.
"RAAAAGH!"
He swung his spiked mace straight at Tuan Tuan's head.
"Die! ╰_╯╬"
The air cracked from the force.
But—
CLANG!
A dull thud rang out as Tuan Tuan met the blow with a single raised paw. Sparks flew.
"Tai Chi: Collapse!"
Tai Chi gives rise to Yin and Yang. Yin and Yang give rise to all things—and all things return to Tai Chi.
That's what the system had taught Tuan Tuan when he mastered Tai Chi Fist.
His counterattack was silent—but lethal.
His little claw struck Bartlu's chest with pinpoint force.
BOOM!
The internal shock shattered Bartlu's organs instantly. The beast-pirate dropped to his knees, coughing blood, eyes red with hatred and disbelief.
"You…"
---
Half an hour later, the Kongo Pirates' ship was a burning wreck.
On the deck of the Smile, Monkey D. Ash stood at the helm, golden light from the setting sun reflecting off the sea. Behind him, the wind caught the sails—and the Smile Pirates sailed on.
Above them, seagulls cawed.
"Gull~ Gull~ Gull~!"
One of them carried a News Coo Den-Den Mushi, broadcasting the events across the seas.
The birth of a new pirate crew had been recorded.
From this moment forward, the Smile Pirates were officially recognized.
Ash smirked slightly. The bounty posters would come soon.
He looked down at Tuan Tuan, who was rolling on the deck, wrapped in looted treasure and laughing like a maniac.
"I wonder how many berries you'll be worth."
He chuckled.
After all, in the world of pirates, pets rarely got high bounties—no matter how dangerous they were.
"Boss! We're rich!" Tuan Tuan yelled, drooling over the mountain of meat he was imagining. "Just think how much barbecue we can buy with this!"
"Still thinking about food?" Ash flicked the panda's belly with a grin.
"Of course!" Tuan Tuan puffed out his chest. "You can't work if you're hungry!"
---
Two days later – Marineford
Fleet Admiral Sengoku's office was unusually quiet.
Garp was in his usual corner, trying to beat his personal donut-eating record.
Suddenly, a fresh stack of bounty posters was dropped on the desk.
At the top of the pile—
> Wanted
Monkey D. Ash – Captain of the Smile Pirates
Bounty: 20,000,000 Berries
And beneath it…
> Wanted
Tuan Tuan – Pet of the Smile Pirates
Bounty: 100 Berries
"NA-NI?! ◝₍ᴑ̑ДO͝₎◞" Garp choked, the donut falling from his mouth.
"My grandson became a pirate?! When did that happen?! Wasn't he with that bastard Dragon?"
He stared at the poster, confused and dumbfounded.
"Garp! Care to explain this?!"
"Uh… that's… probably my grandson. Maybe. Probably."
For the first time, the Hero of the Marines spoke like a nervous recruit. His son was already the leader of the Revolutionary Army—and now his grandson had become a pirate?
Sengoku raised his hand to yell.
But seeing Garp's uncharacteristic awkwardness, he paused… and sighed.
"…Forget it."
Garp stood there in silence for a few seconds.
Then his fist clenched.
"I'm going home."
He marched down to the harbor and barked orders at the nearest ship.
"Set course for Foosha Village, in the East Blue!"
---
Meanwhile – Baltigo, Headquarters of the Revolutionary Army
Dragon sat at his desk, bounty poster in hand.
He stared at Ash's face… and smiled faintly.
"Still full of surprises, my son."
In just over ten days, Ash had already made waves across the sea—and earned a 20 million bounty.
Dragon felt pride… and something else.
He wondered what path Ash would carve for himself next.
---
Back on the East Blue—
Ash stood silently at the edge of a familiar cliff, the small houses of Windmill Village spread out before him.
A warm breeze rustled his coat.
His mind wandered to memories of childhood—back when Luffy followed him around like a little duckling, still crawling on the ground.
Ash shook his head with a nostalgic smile.
"Time to say hello…"
He leapt down from the hill and walked the dirt path to the village tavern.
He opened the door.
Inside, a beautiful woman with short green hair tied in a headscarf turned her head.
"Sister Makino!" Ash called softly.
Makino blinked in surprise.
"Wait… Ash? Is that really you?"
Her eyes widened as she took in the tall, handsome young man with sharp black eyes and a warm smile.
"Hehe… You still remember me, huh?"
Ash grinned.
After all, from the day he was born until age seven, Makino had been like a mother to both him and Luffy.
When Garp was away on duty, Makino had cared for them.
She was family.
Now, the prodigal brother had returned.
---
To be continued…