To celebrate the return of Shanks and the Red Hair Pirates, Gustave decided to throw a grand bonfire party on the beach.
For a lively celebration with so many people, barbecue seemed like the obvious choice. However, simple grilled meat wouldn't be enough for these notorious big eaters, so Gustave was already planning to roast a few whole sheep to ensure everyone left satisfied.
But when Shanks caught wind of the plan, he raised his hand with a grin. "Hey, no need for roasted lamb. Why don't we go hunting in the mountains instead? We'll eat whatever we catch!"
"Yeah!"
Shanks' proposal was immediately approved by the adventure-loving crowd. Not only did the Red Hair Pirates cheer enthusiastically, but Po's group was equally excited. Yang Chan and Luffy were practically bouncing on their toes, both thrilled at the prospect of a real hunt.
To make the competition more interesting and fair, Gustave approached the Moral Lord for assistance. "Master, could you help us set up a special hunting ground?"
The ancient sage looked up from his gaming setup with mild curiosity. "What did you have in mind?"
"A zone where everyone's abilities are suppressed down to ordinary human levels. No Devil Fruits, no Haki, no superhuman strength. Just skill, wit, and teamwork."
The Moral Lord's eyes lit up with amusement. "Interesting. Very well."
With a casual wave of his hand, the Moral Lord established the boundaries of the hunting area. Anyone who entered would find their extraordinary abilities completely sealed, their physical capabilities compressed to that of a regular person. Victory would depend entirely on strategy and cunning.
"The rules are simple," Gustave announced to the gathering crowd. "Form teams of three. Each team can choose one weapon to aid in your hunt. When you enter the designated area, you'll be on equal footing with everyone else. The team that brings back the least prey by sunset will face a punishment!"
As soon as Shanks stepped into the hunting zone, he felt an unfamiliar sensation of weakness wash over him. Curious, he threw a punch at a nearby tree trunk. His fist barely made a dent in the bark.
"Interesting! Very interesting!" Shanks flexed his hands, marveling at the foreign experience. "I haven't felt this ordinary since... well, never! Growing up on Roger's ship doesn't exactly give you a normal childhood."
He turned to Gustave with genuine appreciation. "You're incredibly lucky to have such a powerful master. This kind of technique is beyond anything I've seen."
"Are you jealous? That's what good fortune looks like!" Gustave replied with a smug grin.
"You little..." Shanks shook his head with a laugh, but he was clearly enjoying himself as he adjusted to his temporarily mundane body.
"Alright, everyone! Three people per team, form your groups freely, and meet back at the ship before dark. The team with the smallest catch gets punished!" Gustave called out. "The hunt begins now!"
Without missing a beat, Gustave immediately grabbed Yang Chan and Po as his teammates. He snatched up a sharp machete from the weapon pile and bolted toward the forest, leaving everyone else in the dust.
"Uncle Gustave, you cheater!" Luffy pointed accusingly at the retreating chef, but Gustave, Po, and Yang Chan had already disappeared into the treeline.
"Haha! Luffy, if you don't find teammates soon, you'll be hunting alone!" Shanks proved he was no better when it came to fair play. Following Gustave's example, he quickly grabbed Uta and Ace, selected a cutlass, and headed into the woods.
When Luffy finally turned around to look for partners, he discovered with growing horror that he'd been the slowest to react. Everyone else had already formed their teams and chosen their weapons. He stood alone in the clearing like an abandoned puppy.
"This isn't fair!" Luffy stamped his feet in frustration. None of these people had any loyalty! How could they overlook the future greatest hero like this?
Scanning the area desperately, Luffy finally spotted two other figures who'd been left behind just like him: Tom and Jerry.
After entering the Moral Lord's suppressed hunting zone, the famous cat and mouse duo had lost all their cartoon magic. Aside from being slightly more intelligent than average animals, they were now just an ordinary cat and mouse. Naturally, no one had wanted them as hunting partners.
Tom and Jerry were equally indignant about being overlooked. The two eternal enemies, who usually spent their days in elaborate chase sequences and slapstick battles, decided to call a temporary truce. They shook hands (or paw and tiny paw) with surprising dignity, united in their desire to prove the others wrong.
And so, Luffy found himself automatically grouped with the cartoon duo in what could only be called the "leftover team."
"Tom, Jerry, the three of us are going to work together and show everyone who the real hunting champions are!" Luffy declared with renewed enthusiasm.
Tom and Jerry nodded vigorously, more united than they'd ever been. They were determined to make everyone who'd dismissed them deeply regret their choice.
"Come on, let's see what weapons are left for us!" After pumping up his teammates, Luffy led Tom and Jerry over to examine the remaining equipment.
However, when they reached the weapon cache, they discovered that all the useful tools had been claimed. Bows, spears, nets, traps, knives—all gone. The only thing remaining for their three-person team was a single wooden club.
"Seriously? How are we supposed to hunt with just this?" Luffy picked up the primitive weapon and turned it over in his hands, trying to imagine how it could possibly be effective.
The mental image was almost comical: Luffy charging through the forest with a club, flanked by Tom and Jerry, all three of them somehow taking down a tiger or bear with nothing but a piece of carved wood.
Tom patted the dejected Luffy on the shoulder with his paw. When Luffy looked over, Tom thumped his chest confidently, gesturing that with his expertise, even a simple club could become a formidable hunting weapon.
"Tom, I'm so glad you're here!" Luffy hugged the cat emotionally. "I'm counting on you!"
Tom accepted the club from Luffy with a confident swagger and instinctively reached behind his back for his usual collection of impossible tools and gadgets. But after feeling around for several seconds, he came up with nothing except a few loose hairs from his own fur.
Tom's ears drooped as embarrassment washed over him. He hadn't expected the Moral Lord's suppression zone to seal away his magical toolbox as well.
"Hehehe!" Jerry burst into laughter, rolling on his back and pointing at Tom mockingly. He'd thought Tom was so capable, but this was the best he could do?
Annoyed by Jerry's ridicule, Tom hefted the wooden club and brought it down squarely on the mouse. Jerry raised his tiny hands to catch it, but the club's weight instantly pinned him flat against the ground, unable to move.
"Ahahaha!" Now it was Tom's turn to laugh triumphantly. Jerry wasn't any better off than he was!
"Tom! Tom! Get the club off Jerry! He looks like he's dying!" Luffy shouted in alarm, pointing at the trapped mouse.
Tom glanced where Luffy was pointing and saw Jerry's tongue hanging out from under the club, his face slowly turning blue as he struggled for air.
"Meow!" Tom quickly lifted the club off Jerry and cradled the tiny mouse in his paws. Jerry was foaming at the mouth, his eyes rolled back, looking genuinely close to death.
Panicking, Tom gently shook Jerry with no response. He immediately laid the mouse on the ground and began emergency treatment—first chest compressions, then mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, working frantically to revive his eternal frenemy.
When Jerry finally stirred and opened his eyes, Tom was overcome with relief. He showered the mouse with kisses and hugs, clutching him protectively.
Jerry tried to push away Tom's oversized face but lacked the strength, eventually giving up and letting himself be smothered with affectionate licks.
"Tom, what do we do now?" After Tom's emotional reunion with Jerry had ended, Luffy picked up the club again and looked at his teammates helplessly. "We can't seriously go hunting in the mountains with just this, can we? Won't we just end up as dinner for the wild animals?"
Staring at the club in Luffy's hands, Tom set Jerry down and began pacing back and forth with his paws clasped behind his back. Even his whiskers seemed to droop with worry. Without his magical toolbox, he was genuinely at a loss.
The three companions—one boy, one cat, one mouse—squatted in a circle around the wooden club, sighing in unison. The situation seemed hopeless.
Suddenly, Jerry sprang to his feet with a bright expression, as if struck by inspiration. He began gesturing animatedly to Luffy and Tom, sketching out a plan with his tiny paws.
"Jerry, you mean... you and Tom will act as bait to lure prey into position, while I hide up in a tree with the club? Then when you lead an animal underneath me, I jump down and bonk it on the head?"
Jerry nodded enthusiastically, proud of his strategic thinking.
"Okay, let's try your plan, Jerry!" Luffy decided, his spirits lifting. "After all, we're the leftover team—we've got to stick together!"