One Piece: Starting With Flame-Flame Fruit

Tony gently patted Nami's head, admiration shining in his eyes. He understood that everything this girl had done was for the sake of Cocoyasi Village and its people, who she saw as her family. Her resilience had been remarkable, pushing through time and again. But from today forward, she would finally be free of that burden.

"Raise your head, Nami! You're my crewmate now," he said with a warm but firm tone. "I'm not here to save Cocoyasi Village as a favor—when a friend's in trouble, the captain doesn't just stand by! Making you cry is a grave sin, and I won't just drive them out—I'll burn them to ashes!"

With a chilling glint in his eyes, Tony's Sharingan flared with a terrifying intent, as he looked directly toward Arlong's base. "Wait here for a few minutes. I'll be right back…" He took strong strides forward, heading straight toward the enemy, leaving Nami staring after him, biting her lip to hold back a sob as tears spilled over her cheeks.

"Crewmate." The weight of that single word made Nami's heart clench. For so long, she had fought alone, with no one to share her burden. But now, there was someone ready to march into Arlong's base, all for her.

Determined, Nami wiped her tears and followed.

After a few minutes, Tony reached the area around Arlong's fortress. The massive building stood tall, enclosed by moderately high stone walls, with a huge iron gate guarded by two members of the Arlong Pirates. But Tony had no intention of sneaking in; he was confident in his strength—enough to dominate the East Blue.

"Huh?"

"Who's that? Haven't seen him before. Is he from Cocoyasi Village?"

"Stop! No villager is allowed near our base without permission!"

The two guards pointed their spears at him. Tony raised a hand calmly and spoke softly,

"Hadō #4: Byakurai (Pale Lightening)!"

Two bolts of white lightning shot from his fingers, piercing through the guards' heads. They dropped instantly, unconscious.

Nami, who had followed closely behind, caught up to him at the front gate. She knew that by coming here, she was burning all bridges. If Tony lost to Arlong, there would be dire consequences. Arlong would undoubtedly retaliate against her, and Cocoyasi's villagers would suffer for it. But she believed in Tony—she trusted his strength. How could she stand back while he fought for her?

No, that wouldn't be what a crewmate would do! Nami wanted to prove she was worthy of being called his "crewmate." And if it came down to it, she was prepared to face death by his side.

"Good resolve, Nami," Tony said with a pleased smile.

Boom!

With one punch, Tony shattered the huge gate, creating an enormous crash as he stepped confidently into Arlong's base, Nami right behind him.

"Huh?"

The noise drew the attention of dozens of Arlong's crew members, all eyes turning toward the entrance where Nami had just walked in with an unfamiliar man. Confusion spread across their faces as they tried to process the audacity of her return with a stranger.

Chew, one of Arlong's officers, stepped forward, approaching Nami with a sneer.

"Well, well… isn't this our esteemed navigator? You ran out of here crying, and now you come back with a new man? What's this supposed to mean?" He leered, a malicious glint in his eyes. "Did you kidnap a rich guy to ransom for another hundred million berries? Or could it be… he's backup, here to go against our boss, Arlong?"

"Oh, Nami, that would be far too cruel," he laughed, mocking her. "Your friend here will be torn to shreds and fed to the sharks!"

"Ha! Well said, Lord Chew! You're becoming more like Arlong every day with that wicked streak!"

The Arlong Pirates laughed uproariously, dismissing Tony and Nami as if they were nothing. But they were about to regret that.

With a swift crouch and a burst of power, Tony lunged forward, delivering a punch straight to Chew's chest. The resounding crack of his ribcage shattering could be heard by everyone nearby.

"Who did you say would be shark food?" Tony's Sharingan eyes gleamed with an icy, emotionless intensity as he glared at Chew.

Stunned and wracked with pain, Chew clutched his chest, blood spilling from his mouth. He staggered backward, struggling to retreat from Tony, mentally cursing his own decision to taunt Nami without gauging the situation first.

The entire area fell silent, shock and fear rippling through Arlong's men. For a moment, the only sound was the faint groan of the wounded officer. Arlong himself, lounging on his chair, was just beginning to rise, prepared to confront this intruder when—

Smash!

Tony's fist slammed into Chew's face, a hit so powerful that Chew's skull fractured with an audible crack. His lifeless body flew back, embedding itself in the tall tower where Nami had often sat to draw her maps, his figure slumped and lifeless.

Tony's strength had been forged on the dangerous Rusukaina Island, where he trained relentlessly, facing monstrous apes, mutated lions, and enormous elephants. These fishmen, untrained in such intense conditions, stood no chance against him.

Now, fear was etched across the faces of every Arlong Pirate. With just two punches, he had effortlessly ended one of their officers.

"This guy… he's no ordinary human… Chew… he's dead, just like that…"

Nami's hand flew to her mouth, her shock mirroring theirs. She had never imagined Tony's strength would be this absurd. Reflecting back, she realized that Tony could have ended her on the sea countless times before. Her supposed threats now seemed laughable.

Meanwhile, Arlong gripped his serrated blade tightly, his red-rimmed eyes shaking with fury. He despised humans, but the members of his crew, especially those who had come with him from Fish-Man Island, were like brothers to him.

"You filthy human! How dare you… how dare you kill my brother!, Nami! I'll slaughter every last villager in Cocoyasi to avenge him!"

Nami trembled violently. Cocoyasi Village—the mere mention of it always shattered her resolve. Arlong had struck right at her weak spot, her Achilles heel. The threat against the villagers instantly reignited her inner turmoil, doubts flooding her mind.

Tony, standing nearby, gently placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"Don't worry… he won't get that chance."

There was something in his voice—an assurance that carried undeniable conviction. Somehow, Tony's display of strength had instilled in her a deep sense of trust. Nami felt that he really would protect her and Cocoyasi Village.

With that, Tony stepped forward, his eyes fixated on Arlong, the ominous glow of his Sharingan casting chills through everyone present. None of Arlong's men dared to move.

"Arlong, is it?" Tony's voice was calm but lethal. "I believe you have my sword. Hand it over, and I'll grant you a quick, clean death. A fitting mercy."

Silence.

No one dared to answer. In the past, such a declaration would have brought mocking laughter from everyone. But things were different now—one of their officers had just been killed effortlessly.

The boy standing before them had a strength that seemed all too real… and perhaps, it was a strength that surpassed even their captain.

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T/N:

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