Isaac Newton in One Piece

As Isaac and Nolan wandered further into the village, their conversation grew lighter. The atmosphere of Foosha Village seemed to pull the tension out of them. For a moment, they felt like ordinary kids again.

The pair strolled down a dirt path near a grove of trees when Isaac suddenly stopped. His eyes narrowed, scanning the surroundings.

"What's wrong?" Nolan asked, noticing Isaac's alert expression.

"We're being watched," Isaac replied, his tone calm but certain.

Before Nolan could respond, a loud snap echoed through the trees, and suddenly a bucket of water tipped from an overhanging branch, soaking both boys from head to toe.

"Gotcha!"

A boy with scruffy black hair and a mischievous grin leaped out from behind a tree, clutching his sides as he laughed uncontrollably. He couldn't have been older than seven, and he wore a tattered red shirt and shorts. His grin was as wide as the sea, his missing tooth only adding to his charm.

Nolan sputtered, shaking water from his hair. "What the—?!"

The boy kept laughing, nearly falling over. "You should've seen your faces!"

Isaac, dripping and unamused, raised an eyebrow at the boy. "Was this your idea of a greeting?"

The boy stopped laughing just long enough to cross his arms proudly. "That's right! I'm Monkey D. Luffy, and this is my village! You're the new guys, huh?"

"Monkey D. Luffy?" Nolan repeated, wringing out his shirt. "What kind of name is that?"

"It's my name!" Luffy said, sticking out his tongue. "What's yours?"

Nolan sighed, clearly exasperated. "I'm Nolan, This is Isaac."

Luffy tilted his head, studying them curiously. "You're not pirates, are you? 'Cause Grandpa says I can't talk to pirates."

Isaac's eyebrow twitched. "Do we look like pirates?"

Luffy shrugged. "Maybe. You've got a ship."

Nolan groaned. "We're not pirates, okay? We're just... travelers."

Luffy grinned again, clearly unconvinced. "Well, if you're not pirates, then you've gotta pass my test!"

"Test?" Isaac asked, already regretting engaging with the boy.

"Yup!" Luffy said, puffing out his chest. "You gotta beat me in a race to the windmill!"

Nolan exchanged a glance with Isaac, then rolled his eyes. "Fine. If it'll get you to leave us alone."

"Good!" Luffy said, already dashing toward the windmill. "Try to keep up!"

The two older boys took off after him, the race quickly turning chaotic as Luffy took unexpected detours through the trees and bushes. Despite his smaller size, he was surprisingly fast and agile, weaving through the terrain with ease.

By the time they reached the windmill, all three were out of breath. Luffy, of course, arrived first, jumping up and down victoriously. "I win! You guys are slow!"

Isaac, hands on his knees, stared at Luffy with a mix of disbelief and annoyance. "You're... an odd kid."

"Thanks!" Luffy said, beaming.

Despite himself, Nolan chuckled. "You're kind of annoying, but you're alright."

"Of course I am!" Luffy said, grinning ear to ear. "Hey, if you're staying here, we should hang out more! I can show you around!"

Isaac and Nolan exchanged a look. For all his mischief, there was something endearing about the boy.

"Maybe," Isaac said finally, though his tone was cautious.

Luffy didn't seem to notice. "Great! See you later!" He turned and dashed off, yelling something about meat as he disappeared down the path.

Nolan shook his head, a small smile on his face. "That kid's going to be a handful."

Isaac and Nolan wandered through Foosha Village as the sun began to set, the once lively streets growing quieter as villagers returned to their homes. They hadn't spoken much since their encounter with Luffy—Isaac was still wringing water out of his coat, and Nolan seemed content to chuckle at the memory.

"We should find a place to stay," Nolan finally said, glancing at the sky, which was now painted in soft oranges and purples. "Do you think that mayor, uh… Woop Slap, would let us sleep in the town hall or something?"

"Doubtful," Isaac replied, scanning their surroundings. "He doesn't seem like the charitable type. Let's find somewhere out of the way where we won't bother anyone."

They eventually came across a small, empty shed near the outskirts of the village, nestled beside a cluster of trees. The wooden structure looked like it hadn't been used in years, with cobwebs in the corners and a slight draft coming through the uneven planks.

"It's not exactly the best place," Nolan said, stepping inside and brushing off a dusty bench.

"It'll do," Isaac replied, setting his bag down. "We're not here to impress anyone."

The two settled in for the night, using their packs as pillows. Nolan was asleep within minutes, his soft snores filling the quiet air. Isaac lay awake a little longer, staring up at the rafters as his mind churned with thoughts of their journey and the odd encounters they'd already had in Foosha Village.

Eventually, exhaustion claimed him, and he drifted into a restless sleep.

---

The next morning, Isaac was jolted awake by the sound of shouting and laughter coming from the village square. He sat up abruptly, rubbing the sleep from his eyes as Nolan stirred beside him.

"What's going on?" Nolan mumbled, still half-asleep.

"I don't know," Isaac replied, already on his feet. "Let's find out."

They hurried out of the shed and followed the noise to the center of the village, where a large crowd had gathered. Villagers of all ages were laughing, cheering, and clapping as a man with bright red hair and a carefree grin regaled them with a lively story.

Isaac's sharp eyes quickly took in the man's appearance: his messy red hair, a long dark coat draped over his shoulders, and a saber hanging at his side. His casual confidence and infectious energy seemed to light up the entire square.

"Who's that?" Nolan asked, craning his neck to get a better look.

Isaac didn't answer immediately. His gaze was fixed on the man, noting the way he carried himself, the ease with which he held the attention of the crowd.

One of the villagers standing nearby turned to them, clearly catching their curiosity. "That's Red-Haired Shanks! He's a pirate!"

Nolan's eyes widened. "A pirate? And you're okay with that?"

The villager chuckled. "Shanks isn't like other pirates. He's a good man. Comes by every now and then to visit the village. He even brings gifts for the kids!"

At that moment, Shanks reached into a sack and pulled out a small wooden toy, handing it to a wide-eyed child in the crowd. The boy's face lit up as he clutched the toy, and the villagers cheered.

Isaac's expression remained neutral, though his mind raced. 'A pirate with a good reputation? That's new.'

Nolan nudged him. "Should we talk to him?"

Isaac hesitated. Shanks didn't seem dangerous, but he was still a pirate—and pirates were unpredictable. "Let's just watch for now," he said, his voice low.

As they observed from the edge of the square, Luffy suddenly appeared, darting through the crowd with his usual boundless energy. "Shanks!" he yelled, throwing himself at the red-haired pirate.

Shanks caught the boy easily, laughing as he swung him around. "Hey, Luffy! How've you been, kid?"

"Good!" Luffy said, grinning ear to ear. "Did you bring any meat?"

Shanks roared with laughter. "Of course I did! What kind of pirate would I be if I didn't?"

Isaac watched the exchange with growing curiosity. There was something different about Shanks—something that set him apart from the other pirates he'd encountered, even in stories.

"Guess we're not the only ones Luffy's latched onto," Nolan said with a smirk.

Isaac nodded slowly, his mind already analyzing the scene. 'This Shanks… he's not what I expected from a pirate. Could he be an ally? Or is this all just a facade?'

As the crowd around Shanks grew livelier, Isaac and Nolan retreated further into the shadows of the village square. Isaac leaned against a nearby tree, arms crossed, his analytical gaze fixed on the red-haired pirate.

Nolan glanced at him. "You've been staring at him for a while. What's on your mind?"

"There's something unusual about him," Isaac murmured. "He's a pirate, but the villagers adore him. That's not normal. And the way he carries himself… it's almost as if—"

Isaac trailed off, his eyes narrowing as Shanks's laughter suddenly quieted. The pirate's grin remained, but his eyes flicked across the square, scanning the crowd with an intensity that felt out of place amidst the cheerful atmosphere.

"What's he doing?" Nolan whispered, following Shanks's gaze.

Isaac straightened, feeling a strange pressure in the air, as though the weight of Shanks's presence had suddenly grown heavier. The red-haired man's eyes moved deliberately, scanning the edges of the gathering—until they locked onto Isaac.

For a moment, neither moved. Shanks's grin widened slightly, but his gaze remained sharp. Isaac tensed, every instinct telling him this man had noticed something.

Without a word, Shanks handed Luffy a bundle of meat, ruffled his hair, and began walking toward Isaac and Nolan. The crowd parted for him, villagers stepping aside with smiles and curious glances, unaware of the subtle shift in the pirate's demeanor.

"Uh, Isaac?" Nolan whispered, taking a step back. "He's coming over here."

"I noticed," Isaac replied, his voice low but steady.

Shanks stopped a few feet away, hands resting casually on his hips. His grin was warm, but there was a glint of curiosity—and something deeper—in his eyes.

"You two aren't from around here," Shanks said, his tone light and friendly. "Travelers, huh?"

Isaac didn't answer immediately. He met Shanks's gaze, searching for any sign of hostility, but found none. "That's right," he said finally, keeping his tone measured.

Shanks chuckled. "Travelers who like to keep their distance, I see. That's fine—smart, even. But I couldn't help noticing something… different about you, kid."

"Different how?" Isaac asked, his expression unreadable.

Shanks tilted his head, studying Isaac with a thoughtful expression. "Can't quite put my finger on it," he admitted. "But there's something in the way you carry yourself. It's like you're always thinking three steps ahead. That's not something you see in most kids—or adults, for that matter."

Nolan stepped forward, a protective edge in his voice. "If you've got something to say, just say it. We're not looking for trouble."

Shanks raised his hands in a placating gesture. "Relax, I'm not here to pick a fight. Just curious, that's all." He turned his attention back to Isaac. "You've got a sharp mind, kid. That much is obvious. And sharp minds tend to attract sharp problems."

Isaac frowned. "What are you getting at?"

Shanks shrugged, his grin returning. "Nothing specific. Just a piece of advice: the world's a lot bigger than this village. And it's full of people who'll see that sharp mind of yours and want to take advantage of it—or get rid of it."

Isaac's frown deepened. He couldn't tell if Shanks was warning him, testing him, or both.

Nolan glanced between them, clearly uneasy. "We appreciate the advice," he said cautiously. "But we can handle ourselves."

"I'm sure you can," Shanks replied, his tone still light. "Just remember, strength isn't the only thing that matters. Sometimes, knowing when to run is just as important as knowing when to fight."

Isaac's eyes narrowed slightly, but he nodded. "I'll keep that in mind."

Shanks's grin widened, and he gave them a small salute. "Good. Well, I'll let you two get back to… whatever it is you're doing. Enjoy your stay in Foosha Village."

With that, he turned and walked back toward the crowd, his carefree demeanor returning as he rejoined Luffy and the villagers.

Nolan exhaled a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. "What was that about?"

"I'm not sure," Isaac replied, his gaze still fixed on Shanks. "But he knows more than he's letting on. We'll need to be careful around him."

"Do you think he's a threat?"

Isaac hesitated before shaking his head. "No… but he's definitely someone to keep an eye on."

As the commotion in the square resumed, Isaac and Nolan retreated back to their shed, their minds racing with thoughts of the enigmatic pirate who had seen right through them.