The blood-soaked battlefield in Cocoyashi Village had finally fallen silent. Shattered homes smoldered, and the cries of the wounded lingered in the air. All around, the corpses of the Arlong Pirates lay twisted and broken, their reign of terror ended in a single, unstoppable storm named Raizen D. Arashi.
Slowly, cautiously, the villagers began to emerge from behind broken fences, overturned carts, and cracked doors. For the first time in years, they stepped into the open without fear.
From among them, a small boy dashed forward. His cheeks were streaked with tears, his fists clenched in rage. He stumbled to the body of a slain Fishman and began kicking it furiously, screaming with each strike.
"You bastard! You killed my sister! You monster!"
He kept kicking, even though his little legs could barely move the corpse. The villagers watched in silence, some weeping quietly.
Genzo, the town sheriff, walked forward. His usual stern expression was replaced with awe and deep gratitude. He stood before Raizen, dropped to one knee, and bowed his head.
"Thank you, sir. We owe you everything."
Raizen remained silent for a moment, then gave a small nod. "No need for thanks. Just hated the sight of injustice."
His eyes scanned the crowd. "By the way, Sheriff... where are Nami and Nojiko?"
At this, Genzo froze. Sweat broke across his brow. He bowed lower.
"Sir, please forgive them if they took anything from you! I will repay it all myself. Don't hurt them."
Raizen blinked, then let out a sharp, hearty laugh. "Sheriff, I think you misunderstood me. I'm not here for revenge. I'm here to recruit them."
Genzo raised his head, stunned.
From behind the crowd, two women stepped forward. Nami and Nojiko, bruised and dust-covered, had been helping the Straw Hats recover. They heard Raizen's words and froze.
Before anyone could react, a shout rang out.
"Gomu Gomu no... Missile!"
Luffy launched through the air, teeth gritted, aiming straight for Raizen.
"You helped us! But Nami is MY navigator!"
Raizen didn't move. As Luffy came flying at him, he raised his hand and caught him by the skull mid-air.
Gasps echoed from the villagers.
Luffy snarled. "Let me go, bastard!"
Raizen's grip tightened slightly. He leaned in, voice low.
"Oh really? Yours?"
Memories of Raizen crushing Fishman skulls like eggshells flashed in everyone's minds. A heavy silence fell.
Then Raizen spoke coldly. "Not anymore, Straw Hat."
With a twist of his wrist, he flung Luffy across the air. The boy shot like a cannonball toward the ocean.
"Luffy!" Nami screamed. "He can't swim! He'll drown!"
The Straw Hats scrambled onto the Going Merry, yelling orders, hoisting sails, chasing after their captain as fast as the wind could carry them.
Back in the village, Nami and Nojiko stood their ground before Raizen.
Raizen turned to them calmly. "You two are joining my crew."
Nami hesitated. "Mister... who even are you?"
Raizen's expression softened slightly. "I used to be Navy. But I gave that up. My name is Raizen D. Arashi. But you... you can call me Captain."
The surviving Fishmen, wounded and terrified, tried to crawl away. Raizen caught the movement from the corner of his eye.
"Ah, ah, ah... You're not going anywhere."
He cracked his knuckles.
"Sheriff, bring ropes. Tie them up. And if any of you idiots so much as twitch..."
He rubbed his bloody fist slowly into his palm. The Fishmen went dead silent.
Within minutes, the villagers had tied every last one of them. None resisted.
Later that evening, the air shifted. Fear was replaced with something new: freedom. Bonfires lit up the village square. The villagers brought out whatever food and drink they had. For the first time in years, they celebrated.
Raizen sat on a barrel, wet shirt clinging to his muscular frame, steam rising gently from his earlier cleansing technique. He drank from a wooden cup, watching flames dance.
Nami and Nojiko approached. They sat beside him.
Nojiko spoke first. "Captain... how do you know us? We've never met. I've never left this island."
Nami added, "And I don't remember ever seeing you before."
Raizen stared into the fire. Then he turned his gaze to them.
"To tell you the truth... you came to me in a dream."
Both women stared at him, stunned.
"It was... vivid. Clearer than any vision I've ever had. A dream where we were sailing together, fighting together, changing the world."
Silence stretched.
Raizen sipped his drink.
"I don't know why. But I trust dreams."
Nojiko's eyes softened. Nami bit her lip, unsure.
But somewhere deep down... a part of them believed him.
The fire crackled, and above them, stars stretched across the sky like a map waiting to be followed.