The sails of the Oro Jackson swelled with wind, carrying the ship away from the Whitebeard Pirates. Onboard, the crew was a mix of emotions, and their new "guest" was practically buzzing with excitement.
Kozuki Oden was like an animal let out of its cage for the first time. He was filled with a boundless curiosity about every little thing on the ship. One moment he was at the bow, the sea breeze whipping through his long hair. The next, he was leaning over the helmsman's shoulder, pointing at the complex rudder and sea charts, shouting, "Oh, oh, oh!" in amazement.
Oden's enthusiasm was a wildfire, but the crew of the Roger Pirates were cautious, keeping their distance from his overwhelming energy.
"Hey, Shanks, is that guy really going to be with us for a whole year?" Buggy ducked behind the main mast, whispering to Shanks while secretly pointing at Oden.
Shanks chewed on a blade of grass, his hands resting behind his head as he watched the samurai. "Captain Roger went to get him personally, so it must be true. Still... he doesn't seem like a pirate at all. He's more like a country boy who's never seen the world."
"He's a commander on Whitebeard's crew, and Whitebeard calls him a brother," Jabba said calmly, leaning against the ship's rail while polishing his twin axes. "There's more to him than meets the eye." His sharp gaze followed Oden's every move like a hawk.
As a veteran of the crew, Jabba had met plenty of strong people, but Oden's pure, almost childlike aura didn't match his reputation as one of Whitebeard's fiercest commanders. To be honest, he thought, the man looks like a total fool.
Meanwhile, Kyle relaxed in a deck chair, a faint smile on his lips. His sunglasses hid his eyes, making him look like an outsider watching the crew's silent observation of their newest member with amusement. The distance the crew kept and Oden's complete lack of awareness created a funny sight.
This quiet standoff finally changed when the Oro Jackson docked at a busy island market.
"Oh, oh, oh! What a lively town!" Oden was the first one to jump off the ship, his two swords, Ame no Habakiri and Enma, clinking at his waist. His eyes shone as he looked around at the bustling streets. He turned back to the ship and yelled, "Everyone! To celebrate me coming aboard, tonight you'll all taste the greatest food from my home, Wano Country—Oden!"
Before anyone could even react, he dashed into the crowded streets like a gust of wind.
"Oden?" Buggy and Shanks looked at each other, completely confused.
"Hey! Oden!" Jabba sighed and hung his axes back at his waist. "We should follow him and make sure he doesn't get into any trouble."
Kozuki Oden walked confidently through the market stalls. He stopped at a vegetable stand, picked up several large daikon radishes, and flashed the vendor a huge smile. "These look great!" Then he hurried over to a tofu shop, grabbed a few pieces of freshly fried tofu, and clapped the owner on the shoulder. "Excellent work!"
He continued on, gathering fish balls, konjac noodles, and knotted kelp. Everywhere he went, he would take what he needed, give a loud "thank you," and walk away without any thought of paying. In his mind, sharing good food was the most natural thing in the world, which meant the ingredients should be free for everyone.
The vendors he had "visited" were stunned at first. Then, their shock turned to anger. Shouts echoed through the market.
"Hey! You, the samurai! Stop right there!"
"Thief! He's stealing food and not paying for it!"
Jabba, who was following close behind, put a hand to his forehead, feeling a headache coming on. Shanks and Buggy just stood there, completely shocked. Buggy's jaw nearly touched the ground. "Is this guy a complete idiot?!"
Before long, a group of tough-looking men emerged from the alleyways, surrounding them. They were dressed in plain clothes, but their tattooed arms, fierce eyes, and the bulges at their waists made it clear they were local thugs.
A man with a large scar on his face stepped forward to block Oden's path. He grinned menacingly. "Hey, outsider. You think you can just take whatever you want from our street without asking?"
Oden stopped, clutching the pile of ingredients. He scratched his head, looking confused. "Huh? I was just borrowing these to make some delicious Oden for my friends. Why wouldn't you be happy about that?"
"Happy?" The scar-faced man laughed as if he'd just heard the world's funniest joke. "Do you take us for fools? Boys, let's teach him a lesson about the 'rules' around here!"
Before he could finish his sentence, seven or eight thugs grinned and pulled out machetes and iron pipes they had hidden behind their backs. They all rushed forward at once.
"Seriously..." Jabba shook his head, but he didn't move to intervene just yet. Instead, he glanced over at Shanks and Buggy.
Shanks and Buggy looked at each other and nodded. They didn't even have to think about it. Oden might have been a weirdo, but he was with them now. As members of the Roger Pirates, they couldn't let some small-time thugs push one of their own around.
"Hey! You want a fight? You've got one!" Shanks shouted, drawing his cutlass and stepping in front of Oden protectively.
"You're messing with the wrong people!" Buggy yelled, pulling out a handful of throwing knives and taking a fighting stance.
Oden looked at the two young apprentices standing in front of him. He was surprised for a moment, then he let out a booming laugh. "Oh, oh, oh! You two want in on the fun? This is interesting!" He carefully set the ingredients down on the ground and placed his hands on the hilts of his two swords.
"Gun-Modoki!"
In a flash, a brilliant arc of sword light shot forward. The two thugs at the front didn't even see what hit them. A massive force sent them flying backward, crashing through a row of market stalls.
"Whoa, he's strong!" Shanks's eyes widened in admiration. Not wanting to be left out, he swung his own sword, perfectly blocking an incoming machete.
"Don't underestimate us!" Buggy yelled as his knives flew through the air in strange patterns, forcing several of the thugs to dive for cover.
A small smile formed on Jabba's lips as he watched them. He decided to join in, his twin axes cutting wide arcs through the air. Each swing created a powerful gust of wind that kept the thugs from getting anywhere near him.
It wasn't really a fight; it was a completely one-sided beatdown. Oden's swordsmanship was powerful and overwhelming. Jabba was like a solid mountain, handling his opponents with ease. And even though Shanks and Buggy were young, they fought with perfect teamwork, their skills far beyond those of normal people. In less than five minutes, the street was filled with the groans of defeated thugs.
Oden sheathed his swords and looked at the three who had fought beside him. A wide, bright smile spread across his face. "You're all pretty strong! Hahahaha!"
Shanks and Buggy were breathing heavily, but their faces were red with excitement. After fighting alongside him, any strangeness they had felt toward the samurai had completely disappeared.
"You're not so bad yourself. You're a real monster," Jabba said, wiping a bit of imaginary dust from his axe. There was a clear note of approval in his voice.
…
That night, a giant iron pot was set up on the deck of the Oro Jackson. Oden happily took on the role of head chef. He carefully prepared all the ingredients he had "collected" earlier and placed them into a bubbling, fragrant broth he had made from sea fish and kelp—the very soul of his Oden dish.
Soon, a delicious smell filled the air around the ship—a mix of sweet radish, fresh fish balls, and rich soy sauce.
"Hey, are you sure this stuff is edible?" Buggy asked, leaning over the pot and eyeing the strange mix of boiled ingredients with suspicion.
"You'll know once you try some!" Roger laughed, grabbing a bowl. He was the first in line, letting Oden fill it to the top. He immediately started slurping down the soup and ingredients. "Whoa! This is amazing! This radish thing soaks up all the flavor from the soup. It's incredible!"
After seeing their captain's reaction, the rest of the crew eagerly lined up for a bowl.
"Wow! This fish ball is so bouncy!"
"And this tofu just melts in your mouth!"
Buggy and Shanks ate so fast that their mouths were greasy and they could barely speak. Jabba ate his bowl quietly, a look of deep satisfaction on his face.
Kyle also got a bowl and had Oden fill it for him. He picked up a piece of the soft, clear daikon radish and took a bite. The warm, savory broth burst in his mouth, and the familiar, slightly sweet flavor made him pause. This taste... he thought. How long has it been? For a moment, he felt a strange sense of distance from everything around him.
The feast went on late into the night. Oden was right in the middle of it all, surrounded by the crew. He drank, sang, and waved his arms wildly as he told exciting stories about Wano Country. Shanks and Buggy had become his biggest fans, calling him "Brother Oden" every chance they got.
Roger had his arm slung around Oden's shoulders as they drank together. He glanced over at Kyle, who was enjoying his food quietly off to the side, and his already wide grin grew even wider.
The sounds of clinking mugs, loud laughter, and the warm steam rising from the pot of Oden filled the night. Any feeling of unfamiliarity toward the crew's newest member had vanished completely. From this day forward, Kozuki Oden wasn't just a temporary guest; he was a true member of the Roger Pirates.
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