If it's flattened, it needs inflation.
Shanu suddenly exerted his strength, lifting the boat and carrying it onto the sea. Junichi immediately squatted down and began giving Sanji artificial respiration.
After a while of frantic effort, Sanji's upper body twitched, he coughed, and his eyes barely opened a slit before his head lolled sideways and he lost consciousness again.
However, his breathing became long and steady. Shanu relaxed slightly and instructed Junichi to carry Sanji into the cabin.
Shanu then went to the other side of the reef and helped Zeff aboard.
Seeing Sanji alive, the old man finally settled, lying obediently on the bed.
Both were extremely weak—one unconscious, the other with an amputated limb that still needed treatment.
They needed a reliable doctor as soon as possible.
"Is there a hospital in Shimotsuki Village?" Shanu asked.
"Hospital?" Junichi scratched his head. "Not exactly, but there's a small clinic. Granny Shilan there is excellent; even people from nearby villages come over mountains just to see her."
"Then Shimotsuki Village it is!"
Shanu spread out the nearby sea chart. "We've been sailing for two days—how much longer?"
Islands in the East Blue were countless. Small villages like Shimotsuki, seldom visited by outsiders, wouldn't be marked on commercial sea charts.
Luckily, they had a local.
Junichi pointed at a spot, measuring the distance with his hand. "Very close, Boss. Three or four days at most."
"Three or four days… then we'll use up the cola. Full speed ahead, and the two of us will paddle with all our strength. That should shave off a lot of time."
Shanu turned back. "You can manage, old man?"
Zeff raised his right hand with difficulty, forming an "OK" gesture. Seeing Shanu's exasperated expression, he grinned and lay back down.
…
Two days later, in the evening,
The long, drizzling rain gradually ceased.
Shanu and his group finally reached a small hilly island. South of the central mountain range lay Shimotsuki Village.
Several preteens were playing near the dock. Sharp-eyed, they noticed a small boat rapidly approaching from afar.
"Eh, that boat looks familiar…"
"It's Senior Junichi! Dummy! Senior Junichi is back!"
"Senior Junichi!"
The kids ran happily to the dock, surrounding Junichi as he disembarked.
Shanu, still in the cabin, glanced at a sleeping Zeff. He pulled a small bag from his pocket containing some blood.
It was coughed up by Sanji earlier while semi-conscious—a scene that had been a bit scary at the time, but things had stabilized.
Blood…
Shanu rubbed his chin thoughtfully. This might be the most valuable item he could currently obtain from Sanji.
After all, the kid had just escaped from Germa, still wearing his chef uniform from his internship on the passenger ship—nothing on him had any sentimental value.
Without hesitation, Shanu offered the blood as a sacrifice.
[Sacrifice: Sanji's Special Blood]
[Quality: Excellent]
[Value: 1000 points]
[Appraisal: As a member of the North Blue Noble Vinsmoke family, Sanji has undergone genetic modifications. His blood is naturally unique. Though he hates his lineage, there is no doubt that the blood running through him is more valuable than that of ordinary people.]
[Remaining Points: 10325]
"Worth it, indeed."
Shanu's eyes brightened, and his mood lifted.
Sanji, like Nami, was still a little kid—no hope of gaining "power-weight" points. Obtaining a reward worth a thousand points was a pleasant surprise.
Sheathing his authentic sword on his back, Shanu left the cabin, glanced at Junichi, and smiled. "Quite popular in the village, huh?"
Ever since showing the sword to Junichi, he'd gotten used to carrying it. Now that he'd grown taller, it looked fitting on his back.
"Hehe."
Junichi scratched his head shyly, but seeing Shanu's exhaustion, immediately turned serious and assumed the aura of a senior student. "Business first. Two patients need to be taken to the clinic. Who's coming to help?"
Reaching the village in two days had relied entirely on Shanu's superhuman strength and endurance paddling. Now it was time for him to rest.
"I! Me!"
The kids eagerly volunteered. Four lifted Sanji, two supported Zeff, heading toward the clinic.
Junichi noticed a figure in the bamboo grove and shouted:
"Zoro!"
"Huh?"
A boy with green hair popped up, panting and sweating. Seeing Junichi, his eyes lit up. "Senior Junichi! When did you get back?"
"Just arrived. Training alone again?"
"Yeah."
"Stop for a moment. I need to take these patients to the clinic. This is Boss Shanu, someone I respect. Please help him find a room in the dojo; I'll come later."
"Got it! Don't worry, Senior Junichi!"
Watching Junichi and the kids leave, Zoro picked up his bamboo sword, slung it over his shoulder, and emerged from the grove.
His gaze lingered briefly on the authentic sword Shanu carried.
"Let's go! Follow me!"
Zoro cheerfully said, "There are plenty of empty rooms in the dojo. You look exhausted. I'll find you the comfiest bed!"
"Alright."
Shanu smiled and followed.
"By the way, your name's Shanu, right?"
As they walked, Zoro suddenly asked without looking back, "Senior Junichi seems to respect you a lot. He even calls you 'Boss,' but you look younger than him. Are you guys close?"
"Just recently acquainted, but I guess we could call it a bond of life and death."
Shanu answered casually, his attention caught by the green hair bouncing on the small boy's head.
Zoro was barely 1.5 meters tall, a tiny kid. The green hair swaying on his head made it hard not to want to tug a few strands.
"Really? Senior Junichi is the strongest among that batch of students. If he recognizes you, your swordsmanship must be strong too!"
"But I'm also strong. Among students my age at the dojo, I'm the strongest!"
Shanu was speechless.
The "reliable" Straw Hat crew member, Roronoa Zoro, now looked like he had just begun to grow into a person.
A plump, ten-year-old kid, always bragging shamelessly—one of the most notable traits of this age group.
"Really?"
Shanu cleared his throat, pretending curiosity. "What about Kuina?"
Zoro's face instantly turned red.
What? Senior Junichi even told this guy that!
"Uh… almost! Kuina's strong too. I've fought her many times; it's about even!" The green-haired boy clenched his teeth, forcing the words out.
Shanu chuckled.
Kids have thin skin—he didn't push it and continued following Zoro into the village.
Until…
Walking along, something felt off—they somehow ended up at the end of an alley. Beside a Japanese-style building gate, a sign read: "Shimotsuki North Mountain Hot Springs Bathhouse."
"What's going on?" Shanu looked at Zoro. "Aren't we going to the Isshin Dojo?"
"Something's wrong… it should be this way…" Zoro scratched his head, thinking hard. "Which fork did we take wrong earlier?"
Shanu realized the truth.
You can get lost even in Shimotsuki Village!