Chapter 357: Four Brothers Gather Together!
After racking his brain for answers and still coming up short, Ryuunosuke decided not to linger any longer.
The mont he stepped out of the ancient ruins, the colossal trunk of the Eve Tree began to shift.
The open fissure that had led him into its depths sealed itself, the bark closing seamlessly as if it had never been disturbed.
A low, ancient voice echoed in his ears.
"...Thank you."
Ryuunosuke paused and turned back.
That voice—was it from Eve itself?
He offered a faint smile and a respectful nod to the great tree, then turned and left.
Not long after, Ryuunosuke returned to Kun’s location.
"Captain, Lord Poseidon has recovered," Kun reported with a low, steady tone.
Shirahoshi had fully awakened. Her complexion was no longer pale, and her breathing had stabilized. She looked much better.
"Lord Ryuunosuke... what just happened?" she asked, blinking in confusion. "I rember feeling sleepy, and then everything went dark..."
"A lingering consciousness," Ryuunosuke said simply. "It claid to be the first Joy Boy... and tried to take control of your body."
His voice was calm, but there was a hint of irritation beneath the surface.
"Shirahoshi, you need to learn to be cautious around others—especially when they approach you with a kind face."
"Why?" she asked innocently.
Her confusion was genuine.
Shirahoshi had lived her whole life under Neptune’s protection, surrounded by guards and doting brothers. As the princess of Fishman Island, danger had always been sothing kept far from her. She had never needed to be suspicious. Never needed to doubt anyone’s intent.
Ryuunosuke sighed.
"I’ll explain it all to you in ti," he said, placing a hand gently on her shoulder. "There are things in this world that you’ll need to understand—especially now that you’ve joined our crew."
With that, he climbed onto Kun’s back, helping Shirahoshi up beside him.
"Let’s head back to Fishman Island."
By the ti they arrived, Najenda had already taken care of the preparations. Supplies were loaded, repairs were complete, and the crew was waiting.
But that wasn’t all.
Standing nearby were several tall figures—Shirahoshi’s older brothers, including the serious but kindhearted Fukaboshi, and his two siblings.
"Brother?" Shirahoshi blinked. "Why are you all here? I’m the one leaving, not you."
Fukaboshi stepped forward with a bittersweet smile. "Father won’t be coming to see you off," he said. "But he asked us to deliver a few things in his place."
He held out a small chest.
"There are things you might already have aboard the Dragon Hunter Pirates’ ship... but still, they’re from ho."
He looked at her seriously.
"Out there, listen to Captain Ryuunosuke. Don’t act recklessly. And Shirahoshi..."
Fukaboshi’s eyes began to glisten.
"...We know how emotional you can get. Just try not to cry too much, okay?"
The others tried to hold back their tears—but failed.
Shirahoshi clenched her fists.
"I’m not the sa crybaby anymore!" she declared. "I’m going to follow Lord Ryuunosuke and grow stronger. I’ll protect others just like he does!"
Fukaboshi wiped his eyes and laughed.
"You’ve grown brave, Shirahoshi."
Though her eyes welled up with tears, she resisted the urge to cry.
"I won’t cry... not now," she whispered, smiling through trembling lips.
"You’re the bravest of us all," Fukaboshi said proudly. He turned to Ryuunosuke. "Captain Ryuunosuke... please take care of our little sister."
"I will," Ryuunosuke replied with a nod. "Kun!"
With a booming roar, Kun opened his mouth wide.
The massive Ship of God and the Thousand Sunny were swallowed in an instant.
With that, the Dragon Hunter Pirates departed Fishman Island.
Far behind them, in the fading coral light, Neptune stood alone.
Tears stread silently down his face.
He didn’t want Shirahoshi to see him cry.
Not today.
---
The voyage to the surface was smooth. No sea kings attacked. No currents disturbed them.
Before long, they broke through the depths—and erged in the blazing sunlight of the New World.
"Woaaaah!!" Luffy’s eyes sparkled. "So this is the New World?!"
"The ocean we’re going to conquer next!" Usopp shouted.
"Hahaha! Hey, brother—look over there! So many navy ships!" Ace pointed in the distance. "You won’t see that on the Grand Line!"
But Luffy’s excitent quickly turned into suspicion.
"...Wait a minute," he said, scratching his head. "Why are there so many warships here? This place isn’t even close to Marine Headquarters..."
"These aren’t just regular patrols," Robin noted, adjusting her sunglasses. "Those are Buster Call-class vessels. This is a military blockade."
"You think they’re here for us?" Franky asked.
"Doubt it," Ryuunosuke said with a sigh. "This has Sabo written all over it..."
"Sabo?" Luffy tilted his head. "What about him?"
Ryuunosuke gave him a teasing grin. "Did I forget to ntion? Sabo said he’d be waiting for us here."
Ace chuckled. "It’s been a while since the four of us had a proper reunion."
Luffy blinked. "Wait... Sabo’s alive?"
"Yeah," Ryuunosuke said, scratching his chin. "I thought I told you years ago..."
Luffy’s jaw dropped.
He had spent years thinking Sabo had died in that explosion. He and Ace had mourned him. They’d cried, scread, and sworn never to forget.
But Ryuunosuke had always insisted he was alive.
Luffy had believed him—at first. But ti passed. Doubts grew. He’d never asked again, afraid it would bring up old pain.
And now...
Thud!
A figure landed on the deck of the Ship of God.
"Long ti no see," ca a warm voice. "Brother... Ace... Luffy."
Luffy turned around slowly. His eyes widened.
"Sabo!!"
He rushed forward, tears flying as he flung himself into Sabo’s arms.
"You idiot!" Luffy wailed. "You’re really alive!"
Sabo grinned and ruffled his hair. "You’re still the sa crybaby as always."
Nami and the others, standing nearby, covered their faces.
Just monts ago, they had thought Luffy was cool. But now...
Let’s compare.
Ryuunosuke—stoic, powerful, mysterious. A captain whose very na struck fear into the World Governnt.
Ace—the Fire Fist, feared across the seas, second division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates.
Sabo—now revealed as the Chief of Staff of the Revolutionary Army, calm and composed with a sharp tongue and sharper fists.
And then... Luffy.
A rubbery, crybaby goofball who clung to his brother’s chest like a wet towel.
"...Maybe Garp did drop him on his head one too many tis," Nami whispered.
"No wonder he turned out like this," Sanji sighed.
"The captain really is the lowest on the ship..." Zoro muttered.
"Alright, alright," Ryuunosuke interrupted. "Luffy, dry your face. Sabo, explain the ss."
Sabo looked over the deck, then glanced toward the distant warships.
"Ah, right. Those?"
"They’re here for ," he said casually, tossing a wanted poster onto the deck.
His bounty: 1,000,000,000 berries.
Nami nearly fainted.
"You WHAT?!"
Sabo smirked.
"My face got exposed during the Impel Down raid. The World Governnt wasn’t too happy about it."
"Chief of Staff... Revolutionary Army..." Robin muttered, reading the fine print. "So it’s true."
"I guess that makes a high-value target now," Sabo shrugged.
The crew fell silent for a mont.
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