A few days later, on a nameless island.
After several days of clashes with pirates, Leno decided the crew should rest here for a while.
"What's with the West Blue? We've been sailing for days and still haven't come across an island. This sea is way too vast!" Nami complained.
"That's how the West Blue is," Nojiko explained. "The sea area is huge, and islands aren't as common as in the East Blue. There are only a handful here."
"Are pirates always like this? So vicious and bloodthirsty? Why do they always attack us on sight?" Chopper asked nervously.
Nojiko patiently told him about the countless atrocities committed by pirates, erasing the last shred of naïve fantasy Chopper held about them.
As they chatted, a strange cry came from Carmen as she cooked. They turned to see Carmen theatrically tossing a spatula, continually shouting "Oh ho ho…" Leno found it unbearable.
"Chopper, after dinner, you'd better give Carmen a check-up. This girl's illness is serious."
"What?! Carmen's sick?!" Chopper, who was bringing out a dish while wearing his Seastone bracelets, immediately turned to look at Carmen.
"Yeah, she's got a condition called 'Chuunibyou.' It's pretty advanced." Leno said with a straight face.
"Alright, I'll check her after dinner!"
By now, Chopper had grown accustomed to carrying seastone and could move normally. Leno didn't expect him to be strong yet—having the ability to protect himself was enough.
Besides, this kid would become incredibly powerful later. Best to let him grow at his own pace.
After dinner, Leno reclined against the bull-shaped bow, gazing at the moonlit sky while the sea breeze caressed him. Footsteps approached, carrying a faint fragrance. Freshly bathed, Nojiko lay down beside him.
"The wind feels so nice tonight. It reminds me of when we were kids, sneaking onto the roof to watch the sea breeze and the stars. Belle-Mère would be searching the whole village for us, and when she found us, we almost got beaten, hehe…"
"Yeah… and in the blink of an eye, we've all grown up," Leno said softly, drawing her into his arms and gently stroking her silky blue hair.
Resting against his chest, feeling his firm muscles and steady heartbeat, Nojiko's cheeks flushed as her own heart raced.
Leno lowered his head to look at her blushing face, gave a light smack to her pert backside, and whispered into her ear: "My Nojiko… you've really grown up."
Utterly flustered, Nojiko leapt to her feet. "I-I'm going to bed!" she stammered, then fled into the cabin in a panic.
Amused after teasing the adorable Nojiko, Leno lay back happily at the bow, quietly guarding the night.
At dawn, as the first light touched the waves, Leno opened his eyes on the deck. He turned his head. "Morning, Kuina. Why not sleep a little longer?"
"Morning. I wanted to train early."
"Train, huh?" Leno stretched and gestured. "Wanna spar?"
"Of course."
Soon the island rang with the clang clang of blades clashing.
"What the heck? Those two can't even keep quiet at sunrise…" Nami grumbled, stepping out in her pajamas with a yawn.
After breakfast, everyone went about their own tasks. Kuina and Nojiko trained in swordsmanship together, Carmen dove back into the kitchen to study recipes, and Chopper was roped into helping Nami with tools in the forest.
Leno made his way to the foot of a small mountain. Covering his fists with Armament Haki, Leno looked at the hundreds-of-meters-tall hill with renewed fighting spirit.
"In the old days, Garp smashed battleships. Today, Leno smashes mountains with his fists!"
"Adah, adah…!" With each punch, booming shockwaves echoed as birds and beasts scattered across the island.
"What's happening?! An earthquake?!" Chopper cried in panic.
"Relax, Chopper. That idiot Leno is training," Nami replied coolly.
Chopper blinked in disbelief. 'That's… training? It's like the whole island is shaking!'
Seeing his face, Nami rolled her eyes. "This is nothing. Let me tell you…"
As Nami described Leno's thousand-meter dragon form and his fight with Garp back in the East Blue, Chopper's repeated gasps and unrestrained admiration echoed along the path.
By sunset, when Chopper saw the mountain reduced in height, his eyes sparkled with worship. "Sugoi! He knocked down a mountain barehanded! Leno's incredible! I'll work hard too, and become a strong man!"
The girls melted instantly at his adorable determination. Carmen soon came calling to summon Leno for dinner.
But before that, a deafening boom erupted, smoke rising skyward. In a blur, Leno appeared on deck, drenched in sweat, having exhausted his Haki with his last full-powered strike. Without a word, he staggered straight to the bath.
After dinner, revived and stretching, Leno's eyes suddenly sharpened. He turned toward the sea. "We've got company."
Everyone tensed. "Not pirates… not a merchant ship either?"
Seeing the ship heading straight for them, they realized—it was coming directly at them, and with hostile intent.
At the prow stood a tall man, over two meters, scar by his eye, skin dark, fingers faintly gleaming as they sharpened into blades. Leno instantly recognized him: the notorious West Blue assassin, Daz Bonez.
"My friends, is there something I can help you with…?" Leno asked, looking at Daz Bones and the dark-clothed men behind him.
"Just business," Daz Bonez said calmly. "My employer wants your ship and your treasure. As for you people…"
"Tsk, troublesome. Daz Bonez, the West Blue assassin— Dice-Dice Fruit user. His whole body can turn into blades. So… who wants to take this one?" Leno shrugged and looked back at the women.
"I'll go," Nojiko said, hefting her sword, Withered Wood, and stepping forward.
Bonez eyed her, then glanced at Leno's calm expression.
"A swordswoman? Since my debut, I've never met one who could cut through my blades. You're sending her to die?"
"Is that so? Then let's see. Show us your performance," Leno said with a faint smile.
Without another word, Bonez's ten fingers morphed into long, thin blades, his legs into sharpened edges as well.
Swish, swish, swish!
Several slashes of compressed air flew at Nojiko.
"A Grandmaster Swordsman?!" Kuina exclaimed.
"No, not swordsmanship—it's a Devil Fruit power. Focus," Leno reminded her.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
"I see… they're air blades with cutting properties," Kuina murmured.
When Nojiko blocked them with ease, Bonez's eyes narrowed. His body blurred as his legs propelled him forward, appearing right in front of her. His bladed fingers slashed down in a storm.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Nojiko moved like lightning, calmly parrying each strike. The duel raged fiercely.
"Nojiko, don't toy with him. Everyone's waiting to rest," Leno called.
"Toying…?!" Chopper gasped. He thought Nojiko was barely holding on!
"Got it!" Nojiko stuck out her tongue cheekily, then coated her blade in Armament Haki.
Bonez's face darkened as hard as Haki itself. "Enough mockery! You'll regret this!"
"No mocking. Just finishing this with the next strike!"
Swish! In a blink, Nojiko appeared behind Bonez, sword sliding smoothly into its sheath.
"I-impossible…"
Bonez froze, then blood spurted from his body. With a dull thud, he collapsed.