Jin had no particular resistance to becoming Luffy's companion.
Back when he'd watched the anime, he'd genuinely liked these people.
Now that he'd run into them in person, why not walk this road together?
Besides… sticking with the protagonist at the very least meant he wouldn't get killed, right? This world didn't have anything like sacrificing someone to awaken the Mangekyō or anything like that.
"You agreed just like that?" Barry said. "You're not even going to think it over?"
Joining a pirate crew… wasn't that a bit too hasty?
"What's there to think about?"
"Do you even know who they are?"
"I do," Jin nodded. "I read the newspapers."
"The Straw Hat Pirates, right?"
The moment those words left his mouth, Zoro's gaze sharpened once more.
"So you came looking for us on purpose?"
"Are you crazy?" Jin shot back. "You think I'd run across the sea just to block a train like this?"
He didn't even know trains could run on the ocean in this world, alright?
Unfortunately, that explanation didn't fully convince Zoro.
Still, since Luffy had already invited Jin to join the Straw Hat Pirates, Zoro was willing to give him a baseline level of trust.
That said, he would keep an eye on him—just like he had when Nico Robin first joined.
It couldn't be helped. The current situation was simply too abnormal.
"It's called the Sea Train," Granny Kokoro corrected.
"Oh, so it's the Sea Train," Jin said in realization.
A train that ran on the sea—so that's why it was called that. Made sense.
"Anyway, from now on, Jin is our crewmate!" Luffy declared. "We just can't have a party yet—we'll wait until after we rescue Robin!"
Normally, a new companion joining meant a banquet.
But under the current circumstances, that obviously wasn't possible.
"Rescue Robin?" Jin frowned. "What exactly happened?"
Come to think of it, he hadn't seen Sanji or Usopp, and they hadn't sailed out on the Going Merry either. Instead, they were riding this unfamiliar Sea Train.
"I'll explain," Nami said.
Since Luffy had acknowledged him, she was willing to extend her trust as well. At the same time, she wanted to see whether he'd back out after learning who their enemy was this time.
After all… it was Enies Lobby.
She then briefly explained everything that had happened so far.
"So Nico Robin did something like that…"
Sacrificing herself for her companions, all to give them a chance to live.
No wonder the Straw Hat Pirates were willing to storm a place like that to save her.
Because she was worth it.
After thinking for a moment, Jin spoke again.
"So what you're saying is, we need to go to Enies Lobby and rescue her."
"Before Nico Robin is put on trial."
"That's right."
"Okay, got it." Jin nodded, then broke into a grin. "Going up against an existence like that, huh?"
"Interesting."
"Then let's go make a complete mess of the place!"
Fear simply didn't exist in Jin's dictionary.
Seeing that he wasn't afraid at all—in fact, he looked excited—Nami froze for a second, then smiled.
It seemed this newly joined companion… was pretty good after all.
Barry, on the other hand, twitched at the corner of his mouth, not knowing what to say.
This lawless bunch was planning to attack Enies Lobby, and after hearing that, the new guy not only wasn't scared—he was thrilled.
As expected, no one who could join the Straw Hat Pirates was anywhere close to normal.
Still, that was a good thing.
With a ninja who could use ninjutsu on their side, their combat power would increase significantly—and their chances would be better.
"If only we could catch up to them before they reach Enies Lobby," Nami said.
"That's impossible," Granny Kokoro shook her head. "Even though the Rocket Man is fast, it can't catch a Sea Train that departed ahead of us."
She knew that very clearly.
Which meant that this time, they would have to face the enemy head-on at Enies Lobby and snatch Robin back there.
"Then we'll just fight," Jin said indifferently.
"That's right!" Chopper said firmly. "No matter what happens, we're bringing Robin back!"
This time, they were heading into battle prepared to risk their lives. Naturally, no one was backing down.
"I'll check on Sanji's side," Nami said.
They'd been gone for a while now—she didn't know how things were going over there.
"Granny!!" Chimney shouted from the window. "The Aqua Laguna is coming!"
"So it's finally here," Granny Kokoro said calmly, lifting her bottle and taking a swig, as if she'd expected this all along.
She knew the Aqua Laguna would catch up sooner or later.
As for how it would cross over?
That wasn't her problem.
She was just the driver.
Nami leaned out the window to take a look—and her pupils shrank.
"S-So huge…! That tsunami is enormous!!"
Watching the terrifying wall of water drawing closer and closer, Nami's face instantly turned pale.
At that speed, even without knowing the Sea Train's exact specs, she could imagine the result.
They would definitely die.
"Granny Kokoro, think of something!" Nami shouted anxiously.
"There's nothing I can do," Granny Kokoro said calmly. "I told you already—once the Rocket Man enters the sea tracks, it can't stop. Even I can't change that."
After saying that, she took another long gulp of alcohol, looking every bit like a hopeless drunk, making Jin's eyelid twitch.
Was this granny really reliable?
"Then what are we supposed to do?!"
Nami was completely at a loss.
If they didn't deal with the tsunami outside, the Rocket Man would be torn apart on impact—and then it would be the end for everyone.
Barry and Zambai exchanged a glance.
"Leave it to us!"
With that, the two led their men and rushed out.
Jin leaned out to take a look himself, watching the monstrous wave approaching.
"Hoh. That's pretty big."
"Do you have a way to deal with it?!" Nami asked, her eyes filled with hope.
"Let them try first," Jin said, pointing upward.
Those guys had just said to leave it to them. No need for him to steal their job yet.
If they really couldn't handle it, he could step in then.
There was still time.
"So that means… you really do have a way?"
"Yeah."
"Okay."
Nami nodded, then calmly pulled out a Den Den Mushi and began contacting Sanji.
Her attitude—one of complete trust—surprised Jin a little.
"Fire! Let the so-called Aqua Laguna witness the power of the Galley-La Company!"
"Yeah!!"
Dillus aimed his cannon and fired at the approaching tsunami.
Others followed suit, launching their shells one after another.
"Boom!"
Unfortunately, the cannonballs only splashed some water. They couldn't even blast out a decent-sized gap.
"It's no good. The firepower's too weak," Barry said grimly.
"Then we'll show you the Franky Family's strength!" Zambai shouted. "Leave it to our special cannon!"
"Target: Aqua Laguna!"
"Fire!!"
"BOOM!!"
Looking at the massive barrel, Jin couldn't help commenting, "That really is a big cannon."
With that caliber, a person could crawl right inside.
His gaze followed the shell all the way to the tsunami.
And once again—just a splash.
"Looks like it's not going to work," Jin shook his head. "Guess I'll handle it."
He'd thought they might pull off something impressive.
In the end, it was just brute-forcing it with cannons.
The worst part was that the cannon looked intimidating but didn't actually hit that hard.
"Oh, then it's up to you, Jin," Luffy nodded.
At this moment, Luffy was calmly sitting on the floor, with no intention of standing up.
Clearly, he believed Jin could do it.
He had already entrusted his life completely to him.
If Jin failed, then they'd all die together.
That level of trust made Jin fall silent for a moment before he spoke.
"Don't worry. Leave it to me."
With that, he grabbed the window frame and leapt out, landing on top of the Rocket Man.
"Ninja guy, you're out here!" Barry glanced at him while continuing to fire the cannon. "You got a way to deal with this?"
Despite their best efforts, they couldn't even open a gap in that massive tsunami.
"We're out of options," Zambai said with an ugly expression.
Back inside, Jin had said he couldn't use ninjutsu in a confined space.
But what about outside?
Could it work against the Aqua Laguna?
"Yeah. Leave it to me."
Jin looked at the towering wall of water ahead, then called out:
"Hey, Luffy! Didn't you want to see my ninjutsu?"
"I'll show you right now—watch closely!"
As he spoke, Jin slammed his palms together.
The sea began to tremble.
Waves surged violently, as if some terrifying beast was about to burst forth.
In the next instant, two enormous water dragons erupted from both sides of the Sea Train, roaring as they charged straight toward the tsunami!
"Water Release · Twin Water Dragon Vortex!!"
The two colossal dragons spiraled together, merging as they rotated—then slammed down violently onto the sea.
"BOOOOM!!"
The overwhelming force blasted a massive hole straight through the Aqua Laguna!
"Y-You… you opened it?!!"
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