-Broadcast-
The weight of Momonosuke's tale settled over the Thousand Sunny like a heavy shroud. The Straw Hat Pirates exchanged uncertain glances as the full implications of what they'd just heard began to sink in. The first half of the Grand Line had been challenging, certainly, but nothing had prepared them for the sheer scale of power that ruled the New World's seas.
"Is this really something we can handle?" Usopp's voice trembled as he voiced what several of them were thinking. The casual display of overwhelming force they'd just heard made their previous adventures seem like child's games by comparison.
Nami caught her captain's eye, trying to communicate her concerns through increasingly desperate facial expressions. The navigator's survival instincts were screaming warnings about getting involved in conflicts of this magnitude. "Actually, Luffy, I'm not sure we're really cut out for this kind of alliance, you know? Maybe we should—"
"Nami, what's wrong with your eyes?" Luffy interrupted with genuine concern, tilting his head as he studied her face. "Are you sick? Hey, Chopper! Come check on Nami! She keeps making weird faces!"
"I'm fine!" Nami snapped, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment as Momonosuke's gaze shifted toward her. The young samurai's expression was understanding but disappointed, and she found herself looking away in shame. The thought of making enemies of any Yonko made her treasure-loving heart quake with dread.
Robin's soft voice cut through the tension like a gentle blade. "Luffy," she said, her smile as enigmatic as ever, "after hearing all of this... do you still want to become the Pirate King?"
The question hung in the air for a heartbeat before Luffy's face split into his trademark grin. Without hesitation, without doubt, he threw back his head and laughed. "Of course I do! I'm gonna be the Pirate King!"
The declaration rang across the deck with absolute conviction, and just like that, the die was cast. Whatever reservations the crew might have had were swept aside by their captain's unwavering determination. This was how it had always been with the Straw Hats—wherever Luffy led, they would follow, no matter how impossible the odds seemed.
Zoro's single eye gleamed with anticipation as he leaned back against the mast. "Those three Road Poneglyphs won't be handed over without a fight, even if we only need the content. But that's fine by me—I've been looking forward to crossing blades with the world's strongest swordsmen again." 5 years of hellish training on Kuraigana islandhad left him hungry for worthy opponents. "My hands have been itching for a real challenge."
Brook adjusted his top hat with skeletal fingers, his usual cheer undimmed by the prospect of facing living legends. "Yohohoho! When you defeat the Yonko, Luffy-san, I'll compose the most magnificent ballad the world has ever heard! Such an epic adventure deserves equally epic music!"
Marlin crossed his arms, his face showing no trace of fear. "The seas are my domain, and I'm a member of the future Pirate King's crew. How could I possibly fear mere Yonko?" Marlin proclaimed.
"You're all completely insane!" The timid trio—Nami, Usopp, and Chopper—spoke in perfect unison, their synchronized despair almost comical. But even as they voiced their complaints, there was no real question about their loyalty. They might prefer to solve problems with words rather than fists, but when their nakama needed them, they would fight.
Despite the incomplete crew roster aboard the Thousand Sunny, Luffy's decision came without hesitation. He looked directly at Momonosuke, his expression more serious than his usual carefree demeanor. "Count us in when it's time to face Kaido, Momonosuke. Your dream of restoring Wano Country—I promise it'll come true!"
The sincerity in Luffy's voice, the absolute certainty that brooked no argument, moved Momonosuke to tears. He had chosen correctly—this young pirate truly was someone he could trust with his deepest hopes. Unable to contain his emotion, he threw his arms around the Straw Hat captain in gratitude.
"Thank you, Luffy-senpai! With all these forces working together, even Kaido can't be invincible. Whatever that monster took from me, I swear I'll take it back tenfold!"
Luffy returned the embrace with a warm pat on the shoulder, offering comfort to someone even younger than himself. After a moment, he pulled back with a puzzled expression. "Oh, by the way, Momonosuke... I think I dozed off earlier and missed something about Shanks. Could you tell me that part again?"
"Ah?" Momonosuke blinked in confusion.
The rest of the crew merely sighed in resignation. Ever since Luffy's return from his training, his tendency to fall asleep at random moments had become legendary. He could nod off while eating, during baths, and even in the middle of combat. By their calculations, he spent nearly half his waking hours in some form of drowsy state.
Understanding dawned on Momonosuke's face—he had observed this peculiar trait during their lesson together. "I only mentioned it briefly," he explained. "According to Who's-Who, Red-Haired Shanks was no match for Kaido. I don't know the specific details of their fight."
The revelation that two Yonko had clashed was staggering enough, but the circumstances made it even more remarkable. "I heard from Who's-Who that their battle lasted nearly ten days and ten nights," Momonosuke continued. "In the end, Kaido fully activated Joy Boy's power and managed to defeat another of the Four Emperors."
He paused, remembering Who's-Who's description of the aftermath. "The powers of Joy Boy and Nika—both connected to the sun god—were so intense that the entire island where they fought was completely destroyed. Even the surrounding ocean was instantly vaporized. It must have been an apocalyptic sight."
But Luffy wasn't interested in the spectacle or the implications for the balance of power. His concern was far more personal and immediate. "What happened to Shanks afterward? Is he... is he okay?"
Momonosuke quickly nodded, recognizing the genuine worry in his ally's voice. "Shanks survived. Kaido let him leave Onigashima without finishing him off. According to Who's-Who, Shanks seemed to be in a terrible hurry when he departed—like someone important to him was in danger and he needed to return immediately."
The intelligence had been limited, and Who's-Who hadn't shared any follow-up information about the Red-Haired Pirates' fate. Strangely, despite the magnitude of such a clash between Yonko, the newspapers had remained completely silent on the matter.
"As long as he's alive," Luffy breathed, visible relief washing over his features. "As long as Shanks is okay..."
But the young captain's knowledge of the current Yonko landscape was limited, leaving him dependent on his crew's intelligence specialist. Robin smoothly stepped into her role, her vast knowledge ready to fill in the gaps.
"The structure of the Four Emperors has shifted significantly since the Marineford War," she began, her calm voice carrying across the deck. "Whitebeard's death created a power vacuum that was filled by one of his former 'sons'—Marshall D. Teach, better known as Blackbeard."
Around the world, Sky Screen viewers leaned forward as Robin's exposition painted a picture of the New World's current balance of power. The changes that had occurred during the Straw Hats' absence were more dramatic than many had realized.
"Blackbeard not only claimed all of Whitebeard's former territory," Robin continued, "but he systematically hunted down and crushed the surviving members of the Whitebeard Pirates. Despite becoming the Marines' top priority target, he continues to expand his influence with apparent impunity."
She paused, organizing the intelligence in her mind before continuing. "Charlotte Linlin—Big Mom—has achieved something unprecedented by reconciling with Elbaf. She now commands a force of giant mercenaries and has given birth to a child whose potential reportedly surpasses even her own."
"As for Kaido, the most up-to-date intelligence we have comes from Momonosuke's account of Wano Country. As for Red-Haired Shanks..." Robin's brows furrowed slightly. "Momonosuke's report of his clash with Kaido is the only information available, and even now, there has been no further news of him."
Before she could elaborate further, the ship's cook emerged from the galley, his voice cutting through the serious discussion. "Alright, enough heavy talk for now!" Sanji called out, wiping his hands on his apron. "The ingredients I picked up in Dressrosa are ready, and dinner won't wait for anyone—not even that pervert Franky. Let's show our guests from Wano Country what real cuisine tastes like!"
The mention of food was like a magic spell cast on their captain. Luffy's eyes immediately lit up with pure joy, all concerns about Yonko and political machinations forgotten in the face of his most beloved activity. Now that he knew Shanks was alive, nothing else mattered quite as much as the feast waiting for him.
And with that beautifully chaotic transition—so perfectly emblematic of the Straw Hat Pirates' approach to life—the formal alliance between the samurai of Wano Country and Luffy's crew was sealed. No elaborate contracts, no lengthy negotiations, just a shared meal and the unshakeable bond of mutual trust.
Meanwhile, the missing member of their crew was experiencing his own adventure elsewhere. Franky, in his infinite enthusiasm for new experiences, had accepted what he thought was innocent entertainment from the local women of Dressrosa. Instead, he found himself unwittingly participating in something far more scandalous than he had anticipated...